Immunoconjugates and antibodies to PRO9917

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

This application is a continuation of, and claims priority under 35 USC§ 120 to, U.S. application Ser. No. 10/216,168, filed Aug. 9, 2002, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,157,558, which is a continuation of, and claims priorityunder 35 USC § 120 to, 10/119,480 filed Apr. 9, 2002, now abandoned,which is a continuation of, and claims priority under 35 USC § 120 to,International Application PCT/US01/21066 filed Jun. 29, 2001, which is acontinuation-in-part of, and claims priority under 35 US § 120 to,International Application PCT/US01/17800 filed Jun. 1, 2001. The entiredisclosures of the foregoing applications are incorporated by referenceherein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the identification andisolation of novel DNA and to the recombinant production of novelpolypeptides.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Extracellular proteins play important roles in, among other things, theformation, differentiation and maintenance of multicellular organisms.The fate of many individual cells, e.g., proliferation, migration,differentiation, or interaction with other cells, is typically governedby information received from other cells and/or the immediateenvironment. This information is often transmitted by secretedpolypeptides (for instance, mitogenic factors, survival factors,cytotoxic factors, differentiation factors, neuropeptides, and hormones)which are, in turn, received and interpreted by diverse cell receptorsor membrane-bound proteins. These secreted polypeptides or signalingmolecules normally pass through the cellular secretory pathway to reachtheir site of action in the extracellular environment.

Secreted proteins have various industrial applications, including aspharmaceuticals, diagnostics, biosensors and bioreactors. Most proteindrugs available at present, such as thrombolytic agents, interferons,interleukins, erythropoietins, colony stimulating factors, and variousother cytokines, are secretory proteins. receptors, which are membraneproteins, also have potential as therapeutic or diagnostic agents.Efforts are being undertaken by both industry and academia to identifynew, native secreted proteins. Many efforts are focused on the screeningof mammalian recombinant DNA libraries to identify the coding sequencesfor novel secreted proteins. Examples of screening methods andtechniques are described in the literature [see, for example, Klein etal., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 93:7108-7113 (1996); U.S. Pat. No.5,536,637)].

Membrane-bound proteins and receptors can play important roles in, amongother things, the formation, differentiation and maintenance ofmulticellular organisms. The fate of many individual cells, e.g.,proliferation, migration, differentiation, or interaction with othercells, is typically governed by information received from other cellsand/or the immediate environment. This information is often transmittedby secreted polypeptides (for instance, mitogenic factors, survivalfactors, cytotoxic factors, differentiation factors, neuropeptides, andhormones) which are, in turn, received and interpreted by diverse cellreceptors or membrane-bound proteins. Such membrane-bound proteins andcell receptors include, but are not limited to, cytokine receptors,receptor kinases, receptor phosphatases, receptors involved in cell-cellinteractions, and cellular adhesin molecules like selectins andintegrins. For instance, transduction of signals that regulate cellgrowth and differentiation is regulated in part by phosphorylation ofvarious cellular proteins. Protein tyrosine kinases, enzymes thatcatalyze that process, can also act as growth factor receptors. Examplesinclude fibroblast growth factor receptor and nerve growth factorreceptor.

Membrane-bound proteins and receptor molecules have various industrialapplications, including as pharmaceutical and diagnostic agents.Receptor immunoadhesins, for instance, can be employed as therapeuticagents to block receptor-ligand interactions. The membrane-boundproteins can also be employed for screening of potential peptide orsmall molecule inhibitors of the relevant receptor/ligand interaction.

Efforts are being undertaken by both industry and academia to identifynew, native receptor or membrane-bound proteins. Many efforts arefocused on the screening of mammalian recombinant DNA libraries toidentify the coding sequences for novel receptor or membrane-boundproteins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the invention provides an isolated nucleic acidmolecule comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes a PROpolypeptide.

In one aspect, the isolated nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleotidesequence having at least about 80% nucleic acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 81% nucleic acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 82% nucleic acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 83% nucleic acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 84% nucleic acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 85% nucleic acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 86% nucleic acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 87% nucleic acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 88% nucleic acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 89% nucleic acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 90% nucleic acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 91% nucleic acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 92% nucleic acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 93% nucleic acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 94% nucleic acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 95% nucleic acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 96% nucleic acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 97% nucleic acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 98% nucleic acid sequence identity andalternatively at least about 99% nucleic acid sequence identity to (a) aDNA molecule encoding a PRO polypeptide having a full-length amino acidsequence as disclosed herein, an amino acid sequence lacking the signalpeptide as disclosed-herein, an extracellular domain of a transmembraneprotein, with or without the signal peptide, as disclosed herein or anyother specifically defined fragment of the full-length amino acidsequence as disclosed herein, or (b) the complement of the DNA moleculeof (a).

In other aspects, the isolated nucleic acid molecule comprises anucleotide sequence having at least about 80% nucleic acid sequenceidentity, alternatively at least about 81% nucleic acid sequenceidentity, alternatively at least about 82% nucleic acid sequenceidentity, alternatively at least about 83% nucleic acid sequenceidentity, alternatively at least about 84% nucleic acid sequenceidentity, alternatively at least about 85% nucleic acid sequenceidentity, alternatively at least about 86% nucleic acid sequenceidentity, alternatively at least about 87% nucleic acid sequenceidentity, alternatively at least about 88% nucleic acid sequenceidentity, alternatively at least about 89% nucleic acid sequenceidentity, alternatively at least about 90% nucleic acid sequenceidentity, alternatively at least about 91% nucleic acid sequenceidentity, alternatively at least about 92% nucleic acid sequenceidentity, alternatively at least about 93% nucleic acid sequenceidentity, alternatively at least about 94% nucleic acid sequenceidentity, alternatively at least about 95% nucleic acid sequenceidentity, alternatively at least about 96% nucleic acid sequenceidentity, alternatively at least about 97% nucleic acid sequenceidentity, alternatively at least about 98% nucleic acid sequenceidentity and alternatively at least about 99% nucleic acid sequenceidentity to (a) a DNA molecule comprising the coding sequence of afull-length PRO polypeptide cDNA as disclosed herein, the codingsequence of a PRO polypeptide lacking the signal peptide as disclosedherein, the coding sequence of an extracellular domain of atransmembrane PRO polypeptide, with or without the signal peptide, asdisclosed herein or the coding sequence of any other specificallydefined fragment of the full-length amino acid sequence as disclosedherein, or (b) the complement of the DNA molecule of (a).

In a further aspect, the invention concerns an isolated nucleic acidmolecule comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least about 80%nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 81% nucleicacid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 82% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 83% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 84% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 85% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 86% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 87% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 88% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 89% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 90% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 91% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 92% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 93% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 94% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 95% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 96% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 97% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 98% nucleic acidsequence identity and alternatively at least about 99% nucleic acidsequence identity to (a) a DNA molecule that encodes the same maturepolypeptide encoded by any of the human protein cDNAs deposited with theATCC® (American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, Va.) as disclosedherein, or (b) the complement of the DNA molecule of (a).

Another aspect the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid moleculecomprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a PRO polypeptide which iseither transmembrane domain-deleted or transmembrane domain-inactivated,or is complementary to such encoding nucleotide sequence, wherein thetransmembrane domain(s) of such polypeptide are disclosed herein.Therefore, soluble extracellular domains of the herein described PROpolypeptides are contemplated.

Another embodiment is directed to fragments of a PRO polypeptide codingsequence, or the complement thereof, that may find use as, for example,hybridization probes, for encoding fragments of a PRO polypeptide thatmay optionally encode a polypeptide comprising a binding site for ananti-PRO antibody or as antisense oligonucleotide probes. Such nucleicacid fragments are usually at least about 10 nucleotides in length,alternatively at least about 15 nucleotides in length, alternatively atleast about 20 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 30nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 40 nucleotides inlength, alternatively at least about 50 nucleotides in length,alternatively at least about 60 nucleotides in length, alternatively atleast about 70 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 80nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 90 nucleotides inlength, alternatively at least about 100 nucleotides in length,alternatively at least about 110 nucleotides in length, alternatively atleast about 120 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 130nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 140 nucleotides inlength, alternatively at least about 150 nucleotides in length,alternatively at least about 160 nucleotides in length, alternatively atleast about 170 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 180nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 190 nucleotides inlength, alternatively at least about 200 nucleotides in length,alternatively at least about 250 nucleotides in length, alternatively atleast about 300 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 350nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 400 nucleotides inlength, alternatively at least about 450 nucleotides in length,alternatively at least about 500 nucleotides in length, alternatively atleast about 600 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 700nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 800 nucleotides inlength, alternatively at least about 900 nucleotides in length andalternatively at least about 1000 nucleotides in length, wherein in thiscontext the term “about” means the referenced nucleotide sequence lengthplus or minus 10% of that referenced length. It is noted that novelfragments of a PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleotide sequence may bedetermined in a routine manner by aligning the PRO polypeptide-encodingnucleotide sequence with other known nucleotide sequences using any of anumber of well known sequence alignment programs and determining whichPRO polypeptide-encoding nucleotide sequence fragment(s) are novel. Allof such PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleotide sequences are contemplatedherein. Also contemplated are the PRO polypeptide fragments encoded bythese nucleotide molecule fragments, preferably those PRO polypeptidefragments that comprise a binding site for an anti-PRO antibody.

In another embodiment, the invention provides isolated PRO polypeptideencoded by any of the isolated nucleic acid sequences hereinaboveidentified.

In a certain aspect, the invention concerns an isolated PRO polypeptide,comprising an amino acid sequence having at least about 80% amino acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 81% amino acid sequenceidentity, alternatively at least about 82% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 83% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 84% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 85% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 86% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 87% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 88% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 89% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 90% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 91% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 92% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 93% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 94% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 95% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 96% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 97% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 98% amino acid sequence identity andalternatively at least about 99% amino acid sequence identity to a PROpolypeptide having a full-length amino acid sequence as disclosedherein, an amino acid sequence lacking the signal peptide as disclosedherein, an extracellular domain of a transmembrane protein, with orwithout the signal peptide, as disclosed herein or any otherspecifically defined fragment of the full-length amino acid sequence asdisclosed herein.

In a further aspect, the invention concerns an isolated PRO polypeptidecomprising an amino acid sequence having at least about 80% amino acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 81% amino acid sequenceidentity, alternatively at least about 82% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 83% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 84% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 85% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 86% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 87% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 88% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 89% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 90% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 91% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 92% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 93% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 94% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 95% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 96% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 97% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 98% amino acid sequence identity andalternatively at least about 99% amino acid sequence identity to anamino acid sequence encoded by any of the human protein cDNAs depositedwith the ATCC® as disclosed herein.

In a specific aspect, the invention provides an isolated PRO polypeptidewithout the N-terminal signal sequence and/or the initiating methionineand is encoded by a nucleotide sequence that encodes such an amino acidsequence as hereinbefore described. Processes for producing the same arealso herein described, wherein those processes comprise culturing a hostcell comprising a vector which comprises the appropriate encodingnucleic acid molecule under conditions suitable for expression of thePRO polypeptide and recovering the PRO polypeptide from the cellculture.

Another aspect the invention provides an isolated PRO polypeptide whichis either transmembrane domain-deleted or transmembranedomain-inactivated. Processes for producing the same are also hereindescribed, wherein those processes comprise culturing a host cellcomprising a vector which comprises the appropriate encoding nucleicacid molecule under conditions suitable for expression of the PROpolypeptide and recovering the PRO polypeptide from the cell culture.

In yet another embodiment, the invention concerns agonists andantagonists of a native PRO polypeptide as defined herein. In aparticular embodiment, the agonist or antagonist is an anti-PRO antibodyor a small molecule.

In a further embodiment, the invention concerns a method of identifyingagonists or antagonists to a PRO polypeptide which comprise contactingthe PRO polypeptide with a candidate molecule and monitoring abiological activity mediated by said PRO polypeptide. Preferably, thePRO polypeptide is a native PRO polypeptide.

In a still further embodiment, the invention concerns a composition ofmatter comprising a PRO polypeptide, or an agonist or antagonist of aPRO polypeptide as herein described, or an anti-PRO antibody, incombination with a carrier. Optionally, the carrier is apharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to the use of aPRO polypeptide, or an agonist or antagonist thereof as hereinbeforedescribed, or an anti-PRO antibody, for the preparation of a medicamentuseful in the treatment of a condition which is responsive to the PROpolypeptide, an agonist or antagonist thereof or an anti-PRO antibody.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the invention providesvectors comprising DNA encoding any of the herein describedpolypeptides. Host cell comprising any such vector are also provided. Byway of example, the host cells may be CHO cells, E. coli, or yeast. Aprocess for producing any of the herein described polypeptides isfurther provided and comprises culturing host cells under conditionssuitable for expression of the desired polypeptide and recovering thedesired polypeptide from the cell culture.

In other embodiments, the invention provides chimeric moleculescomprising any of the herein described polypeptides fused to aheterologous polypeptide or amino acid sequence. Example of suchchimeric molecules comprise any of the herein described polypeptidesfused to an epitope tag sequence or a Fc region of an immunoglobulin.

In another embodiment, the invention provides an antibody which binds,preferably specifically, to any of the above or below describedpolypeptides. Optionally, the antibody is a monoclonal antibody,humanized antibody, antibody fragment or single-chain antibody.

In yet other embodiments, the invention provides oligonucleotide probeswhich may be useful for isolating genomic and cDNA nucleotide sequences,measuring or detecting expression of an associated gene or as antisenseprobes, wherein those probes may be derived from any of the above orbelow described nucleotide sequences. Preferred probe lengths aredescribed above.

In yet other embodiments, the present invention is directed to methodsof using the PRO polypeptides of the present invention for a variety ofuses based upon the functional biological assay data presented in theExamples below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1B show a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:1) of a nativesequence PRO6004 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:1 is a clone designated hereinas “DNA92259”.

FIG. 2 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:2) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 shown in FIGS. 1A-1B.

FIG. 3 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:3) of a native sequencePRO4981 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:3 is a clone designated herein as“DNA94849-2960”.

FIG. 4 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:4) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:5) of a native sequencePRO7174 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:5 is a clone designated herein as“DNA96883-2745”.

FIG. 6 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:6) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:5 shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:7) of a native sequencePRO5778 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:7 is a clone designated herein as“DNA96894-2675”.

FIG. 8 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:8) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:7 shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:9) of a native sequencePRO4332 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:9 is a clone designated herein as“DNA100272-2969”.

FIG. 10 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:10) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:11) of a native sequencePRO9799 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:11 is a clone designated herein as “DNA108696-2966”.

FIG. 12 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:12) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:11 shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:13) of a native sequencePRO9909 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:13 is a clone designated herein as“DNA117935-2801”.

FIG. 14 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:14) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:15) of a native sequencePRO9917 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:15 is a clone designated herein as “DNA119474-2803”.

FIG. 16 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:16) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:15 shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:17) of a native sequencePRO9771 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:17 is a clone designated herein as“DNA119498-2965”.

FIG. 18 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:18) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:17 shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:19) of a native sequencePRO9877 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:19 is a clone designated herein as“DNA119502-2789”.

FIG. 20 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:20) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:19 shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:21) of a native sequencePRO9903 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:21 is a clone designated herein as“DNA119516-2797”.

FIG. 22 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:22) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 shown in FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:23) of a native sequencePRO9830 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:23 is a clone designated herein as“DNA119530-2968”.

FIG. 24 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:24) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:23 shown in FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:25) of a native sequencePRO7155 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:25 is a clone designated herein as“DNA121772-2741”.

FIG. 26 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:26) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:25 shown in FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:27) of a native sequencePRO9862 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:27 is a clone designated herein as“DNA125148-2782”.

FIG. 28 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:28) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:27 shown in FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:29) of a native sequencePRO9882 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:29 is a clone designated herein as“DNA125150-2793”.

FIG. 30 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:30) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:29 shown in FIG. 29.

FIG. 31 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:31) of a native sequencePRO9864 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:31 is a clone designated herein as“DNA125151-2784”.

FIG. 32 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:32) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:31 shown in FIG. 31.

FIG. 33 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:33) of a native sequencePRO10013 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:33 is a clone designated herein as“DNA125181-2804”.

FIG. 34 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:34) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:33 shown in FIG. 33.

FIG. 35 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:35) of a native sequencePRO9885 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:35 is a clone designated herein as“DNA125192-2794”.

FIG. 36 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:36) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:35 shown in FIG. 35.

FIG. 37 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:37) of a native sequencePRO9879 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:37 is a clone designated herein as“DNA125196-2792”.

FIG. 38 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:38) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:37 shown in FIG. 37.

FIG. 39 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:39) of a native sequencePRO10111 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:39 is a clone designated herein as“DNA125200-2810”.

FIG. 40 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:40) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:39 shown in FIG. 39.

FIG. 41 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:41) of a native sequencePRO9925 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:41 is a clone designated herein as“DNA125214-2814”.

FIG. 42 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:42) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:41 shown in FIG. 41.

FIG. 43 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:43) of a native sequencePRO9905 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:43 is a clone designated herein as“DNA125219-2799”.

FIG. 44 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:44) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:43 shown in FIG. 43.

FIG. 45 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:45) of a native sequencePRO10276 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:45 is a clone designated herein as“DNA128309-2825”.

FIG. 46 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:46) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:45 shown in FIG. 45.

FIG. 47 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:47) of a native sequencePRO9898 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:47 is a clone designated herein as“DNA129535-2796”.

FIG. 48 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:48) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:47 shown in FIG. 47.

FIG. 49 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:49) of a native sequencePRO9904 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:49 is a clone designated herein as “DNA129549-2798”.

FIG. 50 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:50) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:49 shown in FIG. 49.

FIG. 51 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:51) of a native sequencePRO19632 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:51 is a clone designated herein as“DNA129580-2863”.

FIG. 52 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:52) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:51 shown in FIG. 51.

FIG. 53 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:53) of a native sequencePRO19672 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:53 is a clone designated herein as“DNA129794-2967”.

FIG. 54 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:54) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:53 shown in FIG. 53.

FIG. 55 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:55) of a native sequencePRO9783 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:55 is a clone designated herein as“DNA131590-2962”.

FIG. 56 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:56) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:55 shown in FIG. 55.

FIG. 57 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:57) of a native sequencePRO10112 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:57 is a clone designated herein as“DNA135173-2811”.

FIG. 58 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:58) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:57 shown in FIG. 57.

FIGS. 59A-59B show a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:59) of a nativesequence PRO10284 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:59 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA138039-2828”.

FIG. 60 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:60) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:59 shown in FIGS. 59A-59B.

FIG. 61 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:61) of a native sequencePRO10100 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:61 is a clone designated herein as“DNA139540-2807”.

FIG. 62 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:62) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:61 shown in FIG. 61.

FIG. 63 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:63) of a native sequencePRO19628 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:63 is a clone designated herein as“DNA139602-2859”.

FIG. 64 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:64) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:63 shown in FIG. 63.

FIG. 65 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:65) of a native sequencePRO19684 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:65 is a clone designated herein as“DNA139632-2880”.

FIG. 66 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:66) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:65 shown in FIG. 65.

FIG. 67 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:67) of a native sequencePRO10274 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:67 is a clone designated herein as“DNA139686-2823”.

FIG. 68 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:68) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:67 shown in FIG. 67.

FIG. 69 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:69) of a native sequencePRO9907 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:69 is a clone designated herein as“DNA142392-2800”.

FIG. 70 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:70) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:69 shown in FIG. 69.

FIG. 71 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:71) of a native sequencePRO9873 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:71 is a clone designated herein as“DNA143076-2787”.

FIG. 72 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:72) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:71 shown in FIG. 71.

FIG. 73 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:73) of a native sequencePRO10201 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:73 is a clone designated herein as“DNA143294-2818”.

FIG. 74 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:74) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:73 shown in FIG. 73.

FIG. 75 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:75) of a native sequencePRO10200 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:75 is a clone designated herein as“DNA143514-2817”.

FIG. 76 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:76) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:75 shown in FIG. 75.

FIG. 77 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:77) of a native sequencePRO10196 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:77 is a clone designated herein as“DNA144841-2816”.

FIG. 78 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:78) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:77 shown in FIG. 77.

FIG. 79 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:79) of a native sequencePRO10282 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:79 is a clone designated herein as“DNA148380-2827”.

FIG. 80 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:80) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:79 shown in FIG. 79.

FIG. 81 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:81) of a native sequencePRO19650 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:81 is a clone designated herein as“DNA149995-2871”.

FIG. 82 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:82) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:81 shown in FIG. 81.

FIG. 83 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:83) of a native sequencePRO21184 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:83 is a clone designated herein as“DNA167678-2963”.

FIG. 84 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:84) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:83 shown in FIG. 83.

FIG. 85 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:85) of a native sequencePRO21201 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:85 is a clone designated herein as“DNA168028-2956”.

FIG. 86 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:86) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:85 shown in FIG. 85.

FIG. 87 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:87) of a native sequencePRO21175 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:87 is a clone designated herein as“DNA173894-2947”.

FIG. 88 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:88) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:87 shown in FIG. 87.

FIG. 89 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:89) of a native sequencePRO21340 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:89 is a clone designated herein as“DNA176775-2957”.

FIG. 90 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:90) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:89 shown in FIG. 89.

FIG. 91 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:91) of a native sequencePRO21384 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:91 is a clone designated herein as“DNA177313-2982”.

FIG. 92 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:92) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:91 shown in FIG. 91.

FIG. 93 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:93) of a native sequencePRO982 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:93 is a clone designated herein as“DNA57700-1408”.

FIG. 94 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:94) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:93 shown in FIG. 93.

FIG. 95 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:95) of a native sequencePRO1160 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:95 is a clone designated herein as“DNA62872-1509”.

FIG. 96 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:96) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:95 shown in FIG. 95.

FIG. 97 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:97) of a native sequencePRO1187 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:97 is a clone designated herein as“DNA62876-1517”.

FIG. 98 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:98) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:97 shown in FIG. 97.

FIG. 99 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:99) of a native sequencePRO1329 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:99 is a clone designated herein as“DNA66660-1585”.

FIG. 100 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:100) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:99 shown in FIG. 99.

FIG. 101 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:101) of a nativesequence PRO231 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:101 is a clone designated hereinas “DNA34434-1139”.

FIG. 102 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:102) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:101 shown in FIG. 101.

FIG. 103 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:103) of a nativesequence PRO357 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:103 is a clone designated hereinas “DNA44804-1248”.

FIG. 104 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:104) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:103 shown in FIG. 103.

FIG. 105 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:105) of a nativesequence PRO725 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:105 is a clone designated hereinas “DNA52758-1399”.

FIG. 106 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:106) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:105 shown in FIG. 105.

FIG. 107 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:107) of a nativesequence PRO1155 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:107 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA59849-1504”.

FIG. 108 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:108) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:107 shown in FIG. 107.

FIG. 109 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:109) of a nativesequence PRO1306 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:109 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA65410-1569”

FIG. 110 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:10) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:109 shown in FIG. 109.

FIG. 111 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:111) of a nativesequence PRO1419 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:111 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA71290-1630”.

FIG. 112 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:112) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:111 shown in FIG. 111.

FIG. 113 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:113) of a nativesequence PRO229 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:113 is a clone designated hereinas “DNA33100-1159”.

FIG. 114 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:114) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:113 shown in FIG. 113.

FIG. 115 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:115) of a nativesequence PRO1272 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:115 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA64896-1539”.

FIG. 116 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:116) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:115 shown in FIG. 115.

FIG. 117 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:117) of a nativesequence PRO4405 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:117 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA84920-2614”.

FIG. 118 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:118) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:117 shown in FIG. 117.

FIG. 119 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:119) of a nativesequence PRO181 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:119 is a clone designated hereinas “DNA23330-1390”.

FIG. 120 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:120) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:119 shown in FIG. 119.

FIG. 121 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:121) of a nativesequence PRO214 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:121 is a clone designated hereinas “DNA32286-1191”.

FIG. 122 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:122) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:121 shown in FIG. 121.

FIG. 123 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:123) of a nativesequence PRO247 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:123 is a clone designated hereinas “DNA35673-1201”.

FIG. 124 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:124) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ. ID NO:123 shown in FIG. 123.

FIG. 125 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:125) of a nativesequence PRO337 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:125 is a clone designated hereinas “DNA43316-1237”.

FIG. 126 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:126) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:125 shown in FIG. 125.

FIG. 127 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:127) of a nativesequence PRO526 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:127 is a clone designated hereinas “DNA44184-1319”.

FIG. 128 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:128) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:127 shown in FIG. 127.

FIG. 129 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:129) of a nativesequence PRO363 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:129 is a clone designated hereinas “DNA45419-1252”.

FIG. 130 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:130) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:129 shown in FIG. 129.

FIG. 131 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:131) of a nativesequence PRO531 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:131 is a clone designated hereinas “DNA48314-1320”.

FIG. 132 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:132) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:131 shown in FIG. 131.

FIG. 133 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:133) of a nativesequence PRO1083 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:133 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA50921-1458”.

FIG. 134 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:134) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:133 shown in FIG. 133.

FIG. 135 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:135) of a nativesequence PRO840 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:135 is a clone designated hereinas “DNA53987”.

FIG. 136 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:136) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:135 shown in FIG. 135.

FIG. 137 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:137) of a nativesequence PRO1080 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:137 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA56047-1456”.

FIG. 138 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:138) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:137 shown in FIG. 137.

FIG. 139 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:139) of a nativesequence PRO788 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:139 is a clone designated hereinas “DNA56405-1357”.

FIG. 140 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:140) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:139 shown in FIG. 139.

FIG. 141 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:141) of a nativesequence PRO1478 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:141 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA56531-1648”.

FIG. 142 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:142) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:141 shown in FIG. 141.

FIG. 143 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:143) of a nativesequence PRO1134 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:143 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA56865-1491”.

FIG. 144 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:144) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:143 shown in FIG. 143.

FIG. 145 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:145) of a nativesequence PRO826 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:145 is a clone designated hereinas “DNA57694-1341”.

FIG. 146 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:146) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:145 shown in FIG. 145.

FIG. 147 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:147) of a nativesequence PRO1005 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:147 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA57708-1411”.

FIG. 148 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:148) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:147 shown in FIG. 147.

FIG. 149 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:149) of a nativesequence PRO809 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:149 is a clone designated hereinas “DNA57836-1338”.

FIG. 150 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:150) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:149 shown in FIG. 149.

FIG. 151 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:151) of a nativesequence PRO1194 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:151 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA57841-1522”.

FIG. 152 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:152) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:151 shown in FIG. 151.

FIG. 153 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:153) of a nativesequence PRO1071 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:153 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA58847-1383”.

FIG. 154 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:154) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:153 shown in FIG. 153.

FIG. 155 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:155) of a nativesequence PRO1411 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:155 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA59212-1627”.

FIG. 156 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:156) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:155 shown in FIG. 155.

FIG. 157 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:157) of a nativesequence PRO1309 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:157 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA59588-1571”.

FIG. 158 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:158) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:157 shown in FIG. 157.

FIG. 159 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:159) of a nativesequence PRO1025 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:159 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA59622-1334”.

FIG. 160 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:160) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:159 shown in FIG. 159.

FIG. 161 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:161) of a nativesequence PRO1181 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:161 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA59847-2510”.

FIG. 162 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:162) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:161 shown in FIG. 161.

FIG. 163 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:163) of a nativesequence PRO1126 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:163 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA60615-1483”.

FIG. 164 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:164) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:163 shown in FIG. 163.

FIG. 165 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:165) of a nativesequence PRO1186 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:165 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA60621-1516”.

FIG. 166 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:166) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:165 shown in FIG. 165.

FIG. 167 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:167) of a nativesequence PRO1192 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:167 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA62814-1521”.

FIG. 168 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:168) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:167 shown in FIG. 167.

FIG. 169 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:169) of a nativesequence PRO1244 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:169 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA64883-1526”.

FIG. 170 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:170) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:169 shown in FIG. 169.

FIG. 171 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:171) of a nativesequence PRO1274 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:171 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA64889-1541”.

FIG. 172 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:172) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:171 shown in FIG. 171.

FIG. 173 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:173) of a nativesequence PRO1412 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:173 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA64897-1628”.

FIG. 174 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:174) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:173 shown in FIG. 173.

FIG. 175 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:175) of a nativesequence PRO1286 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:175 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA64903-1553”.

FIG. 176 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:176) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:175 shown in FIG. 175.

FIG. 177 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:177) of a nativesequence PRO1330 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:177 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA64907-1163-1”.

FIG. 178 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:178) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:177 shown in FIG. 177.

FIG. 179 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:179) of a nativesequence PRO1347 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:179 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA64950-1590”.

FIG. 180 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:180) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:179 shown in FIG. 179.

FIG. 181 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:181) of a nativesequence PRO1305 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:181 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA64952-1568”.

FIG. 182 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:182) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:181 shown in FIG. 181.

FIG. 183 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:183) of a nativesequence PRO1273 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:183 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA65402-1540”.

FIG. 184 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:184) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:183 shown in FIG. 183.

FIG. 185 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:185) of a nativesequence PRO1279 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:185 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA65405-1547”.

FIG. 186 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:186) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:185 shown in FIG. 185.

FIG. 187 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:187) of a nativesequence PRO1340 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:187 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA66663-1598”.

FIG. 188 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:188) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:187 shown in FIG. 187.

FIG. 189 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:189) of a nativesequence PRO1338 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:189 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA66667”.

FIG. 190 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:190) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:189 shown in FIG. 189.

FIG. 191 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:191) of a nativesequence PRO1343 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:191 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA66675-1587”.

FIG. 192 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:192) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:191 shown in FIG. 191.

FIG. 193 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:193) of a nativesequence PRO1376 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:193 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA67300-1605”.

FIG. 194 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:194) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:193 shown in FIG. 193.

FIG. 195 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:195) of a nativesequence PRO1387 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:195 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA68872-1620”.

FIG. 196 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:196) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:195 shown in FIG. 195.

FIG. 197 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:197) of a nativesequence PRO1409 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:197 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA71269-1621”.

FIG. 198 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:198) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:197 shown in FIG. 197.

FIG. 199 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:199) of a nativesequence PRO1488 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:199 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA73736-1657”.

FIG. 200 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:200) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:199 shown in FIG. 199.

FIG. 201 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:201) of a nativesequence PRO1474 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:201 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA73739-1645”.

FIG. 202 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:202) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:201 shown in FIG. 201.

FIG. 203 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:203) of a nativesequence PRO1917 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:203 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA76400-2528”.

FIG. 204 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:204) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:203 shown in FIG. 203.

FIG. 205 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:205) of a nativesequence PRO1760 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:205 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA76532-1702”.

FIG. 206 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:206) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:205 shown in FIG. 205.

FIG. 207 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:207) of a nativesequence PRO1567 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:207 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA76541-1675”.

FIG. 208 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:208) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:207 shown in FIG. 207.

FIG. 209 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:209) of a nativesequence PRO1887 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:209 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA79862-2522”.

FIG. 210 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:210) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:209 shown in FIG. 209.

FIG. 211 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:211) of a nativesequence PRO1928 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:211 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA81754-2532”.

FIG. 212 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:212) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:211 shown in FIG. 211.

FIG. 213 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:213) of a nativesequence PRO4341 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:213 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA81761-2583”.

FIG. 214 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:214) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:213 shown in FIG. 213.

FIG. 215 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:215) of a nativesequence PRO5723 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:215 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA82361”.

FIG. 216 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:216) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:215 shown in FIG. 215.

FIG. 217 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:217) of a nativesequence PRO1801 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:217 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA83500-2506”.

FIG. 218 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:218) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:217 shown in FIG. 217.

FIG. 219 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:219) of a nativesequence PRO4333 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:219 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA84210-2576”.

FIG. 220 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:220) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:219 shown in FIG. 219.

FIG. 221 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:221) of a nativesequence PRO3543 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:221 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA86571-2551”.

FIG. 222 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:222) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:221 shown in FIG. 221.

FIG. 223 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:223) of a nativesequence PRO3444 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:223 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA87997”.

FIG. 224 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:224) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:223 shown in FIG. 223.

FIG. 225 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:225) of a nativesequence PRO4302 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:225 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA92218-2554”.

FIG. 226 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:226) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:225 shown in FIG. 225.

FIG. 227 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:227) of a nativesequence PRO4322 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:227 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA92223-2567”.

FIG. 228 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:228) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:227 shown in FIG. 227.

FIG. 229 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:229) of a nativesequence PRO5725 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:229 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA92265-2669”.

FIG. 230 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:230) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:229 shown in FIG. 229.

FIG. 231 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:231) of a nativesequence PRO4408 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:231 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA92274-2617”.

FIG. 232 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:232) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:231 shown in FIG. 231.

FIG. 233 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:233) of a nativesequence PRO9940 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:223 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA92282”.

FIG. 234 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:234) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:233 shown in FIG. 233.

FIG. 235 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:235) of a nativesequence PRO7154 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:235 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA108760-2740”.

FIG. 236 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:236) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:235 shown in FIG. 235.

FIG. 237 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:237) of a nativesequence PRO7425 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:237 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA108792-2753”.

FIG. 238 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:238) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:237 shown in FIG. 237.

FIG. 239 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:239) of a nativesequence PRO6079 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:239 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA111750-2706”.

FIG. 240 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:240) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:239 shown in FIG. 239.

FIG. 241 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:241) of a nativesequence PRO9836 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:241 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA119514-2772”.

FIG. 242 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:242) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:241 shown in FIG. 241.

FIG. 243 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:243) of a nativesequence PRO10096 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:243 is a clone designatedherein as “DNA125185-2806”.

FIG. 244 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:244) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:243 shown in FIG. 243.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

I. Definitions

The terms “PRO polypeptide” and “PRO” as used herein and whenimmediately followed by a numerical designation refer to variouspolypeptides, wherein the complete designation (i.e., PRO/number) refersto specific polypeptide sequences as described herein. The terms“PRO/number polypeptide” and “PRO/number” wherein the term “number” isprovided as an actual numerical designation as used herein encompassnative sequence polypeptides and polypeptide variants (which are furtherdefined herein). The PRO polypeptides described herein may be isolatedfrom a variety of sources, such as from human tissue types or fromanother source, or prepared by recombinant or synthetic methods. Theterm “PRO polypeptide” refers to each individual PRO/number polypeptidedisclosed herein. All disclosures in this specification which refer tothe “PRO polypeptide” refer to each of the polypeptides individually aswell as jointly. For example, descriptions of the preparation of,purification of, derivation of, formation of antibodies to or against,administration of, compositions containing, treatment of a disease with,etc., pertain to each polypeptide of the invention individually. Theterm “PRO polypeptide” also includes variants of the PRO/numberpolypeptides disclosed herein.

A “native sequence PRO polypeptide” comprises a polypeptide having thesame amino acid sequence as the corresponding PRO polypeptide derivedfrom nature. Such native sequence PRO polypeptides can be isolated fromnature or can be produced by recombinant or synthetic means. The term“native sequence PRO polypeptide” specifically encompassesnaturally-occurring truncated or secreted forms of the specific PROpolypeptide (e.g., an extracellular domain sequence),naturally-occurring variant forms (e.g., alternatively spliced forms)and naturally-occurring allelic variants of the polypeptide. In variousembodiments of the invention, the native sequence PRO polypeptidesdisclosed herein are mature or full-length native sequence polypeptidescomprising the full-length amino acids sequences shown in theaccompanying figures. Start and stop codons are shown in bold font andunderlined in the figures. However, while the PRO polypeptide disclosedin the accompanying figures are shown to begin with methionine residuesdesignated herein as amino acid position 1 in the figures, it isconceivable and possible that other methionine residues located eitherupstream or downstream from the amino acid position 1 in the figures maybe employed as the starting amino acid residue for the PRO polypeptides.

The PRO polypeptide “extracellular domain” or “ECD” refers to a form ofthe PRO polypeptide which is essentially free of the transmembrane andcytoplasmic domains. Ordinarily, a PRO polypeptide ECD will have lessthan 1% of such transmembrane and/or cytoplasmic domains and preferably,will have less than 0.5% of such domains. It will be understood that anytransmembrane domains identified for the PRO polypeptides of the presentinvention are identified pursuant to criteria routinely employed in theart for identifying that type of hydrophobic domain. The exactboundaries of a transmembrane domain may vary but most likely by no morethan about 5 amino acids at either end of the domain as initiallyidentified herein. Optionally, therefore, an extracellular domain of aPRO polypeptide may contain from about 5 or fewer amino acids on eitherside of the transmembrane domain/extracellular domain boundary asidentified in the Examples or specification and such polypeptides, withor without the associated signal peptide, and nucleic acid encodingthem, are contemplated by the present invention.

The approximate location of the “signal peptides” of the various PROpolypeptides disclosed herein are shown in the present specificationand/or the accompanying figures. It is noted, however, that theC-terminal boundary of a signal peptide may vary, but most likely by nomore than about 5 amino acids on either side of the signal peptideC-terminal boundary as initially identified herein, wherein theC-terminal boundary of the signal peptide may be identified pursuant tocriteria routinely employed in the art for identifying that type ofamino acid sequence element (e.g., Nielsen et al., Prot. Eng. 10:1-6(1997) and von Heinje et al., Nucl. Acids. Res. 14:4683-4690 (1986)).Moreover, it is also recognized that, in some cases, cleavage of asignal sequence from a secreted polypeptide is not entirely uniform,resulting in more than one secreted species. These mature polypeptides,where the signal peptide is cleaved within no more than about 5 aminoacids on either side of the C-terminal boundary of the signal peptide asidentified herein, and the polynucleotides encoding them, arecontemplated by the present invention.

“PRO polypeptide variant” means an active PRO polypeptide as definedabove or below having at least about 80% amino acid sequence identitywith a full-length native sequence PRO polypeptide sequence as disclosedherein, a PRO polypeptide sequence lacking the signal peptide asdisclosed herein, an extracellular domain of a PRO polypeptide, with orwithout the signal peptide, as disclosed herein or any other fragment ofa full-length PRO polypeptide sequence as disclosed herein. Such PROpolypeptide variants include, for instance, PRO polypeptides wherein oneor more amino acid residues are added, or deleted, at the N- orC-terminus of the full-length native amino acid sequence. Ordinarily, aPRO polypeptide variant will have at least about 80% amino acid sequenceidentity, alternatively at least about 81% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 82% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 83% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 84% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 85% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 86% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 87% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 88% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 89% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 90% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 91% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 92% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 93% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 94% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 95% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 96% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 97% amino acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 98% amino acid sequence identity andalternatively at least about 99% amino acid sequence identity to afull-length native sequence PRO polypeptide sequence as disclosedherein, a PRO polypeptide sequence lacking the signal peptide asdisclosed herein, an extracellular domain of a PRO polypeptide, with orwithout the signal peptide, as disclosed herein or any otherspecifically defined fragment of a full-length PRO polypeptide sequenceas disclosed herein. Ordinarily, PRO variant polypeptides are at leastabout 10 amino acids in length, alternatively at least about 20 aminoacids in length, alternatively at least about 30 amino acids in length,alternatively at least about 40 amino acids in length, alternatively atleast about 50 amino acids in length, alternatively at least about 60amino acids in length, alternatively at least about 70 amino acids inlength, alternatively at least about 80 amino acids in length,alternatively at least about 90 amino acids in length, alternatively atleast about 100 amino acids in length, alternatively at least about 150amino acids in length, alternatively at least about 200 amino acids inlength, alternatively at least about 300 amino acids in length, or more.

“Percent (%) amino acid sequence identity” with respect to the PROpolypeptide sequences identified herein is defined as the percentage ofamino acid residues in a candidate sequence that are identical with theamino acid residues in the specific PRO polypeptide sequence, afteraligning the sequences and introducing gaps, if necessary, to achievethe maximum percent sequence identity, and not considering anyconservative substitutions as part of the sequence identity. Alignmentfor purposes of determining percent amino acid sequence identity can beachieved in various ways that are within the skill in the art, forinstance, using publicly available computer software such as BLAST,BLAST-2, ALIGN or Megalign (DNASTAR) software. Those skilled in the artcan determine appropriate parameters for measuring alignment, includingany algorithms needed to achieve maximal alignment over the full lengthof the sequences being compared. For purposes herein, however, % aminoacid sequence identity values are generated using the sequencecomparison computer program ALIGN-2, wherein the complete source codefor the ALIGN-2 program is provided in Table 1 below. The ALIGN-2sequence comparison computer program was authored by Genentech, Inc. andthe source code shown in Table 1 below has been filed with userdocumentation in the U.S. Copyright Office, Washington D.C., 20559,where it is registered under U.S. Copyright Registration No. TXU510087.The ALIGN-2 program is publicly available through Genentech, Inc., SouthSan Francisco, Calif. or may be compiled from the source code providedin Table 1 below. The ALIGN-2 program should be compiled for use on aUNIX operating system, preferably digital UNIX V4.0D. All sequencecomparison parameters are set by the ALIGN-2 program and do not vary.

In situations where ALIGN-2 is employed for amino acid sequencecomparisons, the % amino acid sequence identity of a given amino acidsequence A to, with, or against a given amino acid sequence B (which canalternatively be phrased as a given amino acid sequence A that has orcomprises a certain % amino acid sequence identity to, with, or againsta given amino acid sequence B) is calculated as follows:100 times the fraction X/Ywhere X is the number of amino acid residues scored as identical matchesby the sequence alignment program ALIGN-2 in that program's alignment ofA and B, and where Y is the total number of amino acid residues in B. Itwill be appreciated that where the length of amino acid sequence A isnot equal to the length of amino acid sequence B, the % amino acidsequence identity of A to B will not equal the % amino acid sequenceidentity of B to A. As examples of % amino acid sequence identitycalculations using this method, Tables 2 and 3 demonstrate how tocalculate the % amino acid sequence identity of the amino acid sequencedesignated “Comparison Protein” to the amino acid sequence designated“PRO”, wherein “PRO” represents the amino acid sequence of ahypothetical PRO polypeptide of interest, “Comparison Protein”represents the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide against which the“PRO” polypeptide of interest is being compared, and “X, “Y” and “Z”each represent different hypothetical amino acid residues.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, all % amino acid sequence identityvalues used herein are obtained as described in the immediatelypreceding paragraph using the ALIGN-2 computer program. However, % aminoacid sequence identity values may also be obtained as described below byusing the WU-BLAST-2 computer program (Altschul et al., Methods inEnzymology 266:460-480 (1996)). Most of the WU-BLAST-2 search parametersare set to the default values. Those not set to default values, i.e.,the adjustable parameters, are set with the following values: overlapspan=1, overlap fraction=0.125, word threshold (T)=11, and scoringmatrix=BLOSUM62. When WU-BLAST-2 is employed, a % amino acid sequenceidentity value is determined by dividing (a) the number of matchingidentical amino acid residues between the amino acid sequence of the PROpolypeptide of interest having a sequence derived from the native PROpolypeptide and the comparison amino acid sequence of interest (i.e.,the sequence against which the PRO polypeptide of interest is beingcompared which may be a PRO variant polypeptide) as determined byWU-BLAST-2 by (b) the total number of amino acid residues of the PROpolypeptide of interest. For example, in the statement “a polypeptidecomprising an the amino acid sequence A which has or having at least 80%amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence B”, the aminoacid sequence A is the comparison amino acid sequence of interest andthe amino acid sequence B is the amino acid sequence of the PROpolypeptide of interest.

Percent amino acid sequence identity may also be determined using thesequence comparison program NCBI-BLAST2 (Altschul et al., Nucleic AcidsRes. 25:3389-3402 (1997)). The NCBI-BLAST2 sequence comparison programmay be obtained from the National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Md.NCBI-BLAST2 uses several search parameters, wherein all of those searchparameters are set to default values including, for example, unmask=yes,strand=all, expected occurrences=10, minimum low complexity length=15/5,multi-pass e-value=0.01, constant for multi-pass=25, dropoff for finalgapped alignment=25 and scoring matrix=BLOSUM62.

In situations where NCBI-BLAST2 is employed for amino acid sequencecomparisons, the % amino acid sequence identity of a given amino acidsequence A to, with, or against a given amino acid sequence B (which canalternatively be phrased as a given amino acid sequence A that has orcomprises a certain % amino acid sequence identity to, with, or againsta given amino acid sequence B) is calculated as follows:100 times the fraction X/Ywhere X is the number of amino acid residues scored as identical matchesby the sequence alignment program NCBI-BLAST2 in that program'salignment of A and B, and where Y is the total number of amino acidresidues in B. It will be appreciated that where the length of aminoacid sequence A is not equal to the length of amino acid sequence B, the% amino acid sequence identity of A to B will not equal the % amino acidsequence identity of B to A.

“PRO variant polynucleotide” or “PRO variant nucleic acid sequence”means a nucleic acid molecule which encodes an active PRO polypeptide asdefined below and which has at least about 80% nucleic acid sequenceidentity with a nucleotide acid sequence encoding a full-length nativesequence PRO polypeptide sequence as disclosed herein, a full-lengthnative sequence PRO polypeptide sequence lacking the signal peptide asdisclosed herein, an extracellular domain of a PRO polypeptide, with orwithout the signal peptide, as disclosed herein or any other fragment ofa full-length PRO polypeptide sequence as disclosed herein. Ordinarily,a PRO variant polynucleotide will have at least about 80% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 81% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 82% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 83% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 84% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 85% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 86% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 87% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 88% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 89% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 90% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 91% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 92% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 93% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 94% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 95% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 96% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 97% nucleic acidsequence identity, alternatively at least about 98% nucleic acidsequence identity and alternatively at least about 99% nucleic acidsequence identity with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a full-lengthnative sequence PRO polypeptide sequence as disclosed herein, afull-length native sequence PRO polypeptide sequence lacking the signalpeptide as disclosed herein, an extracellular domain of a PROpolypeptide, with or without the signal sequence, as disclosed herein orany other fragment of a full-length PRO polypeptide sequence asdisclosed herein. Variants do not encompass the native nucleotidesequence.

Ordinarily, PRO variant polynucleotides are at least about 30nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 60 nucleotides inlength, alternatively at least about 90 nucleotides in length,alternatively at least about 120 nucleotides in length, alternatively atleast about 150 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 180nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 210 nucleotides inlength, alternatively at least about 240 nucleotides in length,alternatively at least about 270 nucleotides in length, alternatively atleast about 300 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 450nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 600 nucleotides inlength, alternatively at least about 900 nucleotides in length, or more.

“Percent (%) nucleic acid sequence identity” with respect toPRO-encoding nucleic acid sequences identified herein is defined as thepercentage of nucleotides in a candidate sequence that are identicalwith the nucleotides in the PRO nucleic acid sequence of interest, afteraligning the sequences and introducing gaps, if necessary, to achievethe maximum percent sequence identity. Alignment for purposes ofdetermining percent nucleic acid sequence identity can be achieved invarious ways that are within the skill in the art, for instance, usingpublicly available computer software such as BLAST, BLAST-2, ALIGN orMegalign (DNASTAR) software. For purposes herein, however, % nucleicacid sequence identity values are generated using the sequencecomparison computer program ALIGN-2, wherein the complete source codefor the ALIGN-2 program is provided in Table 1 below. The ALIGN-2sequence comparison computer program was authored by Genentech, Inc. andthe source code shown in Table 1 below has been filed with userdocumentation in the U.S. Copyright Office, Washington D.C., 20559,where it is registered under U.S. Copyright Registration No. TXU510087.The ALIGN-2 program is publicly available through Genentech, Inc., SouthSan Francisco, Calif. or may be compiled from the source code providedin Table 1 below. The ALIGN-2 program should be compiled for use on aUNIX operating system, preferably digital UNIX V4.0D. All sequencecomparison parameters are set by the ALIGN-2 program and do not vary.

In situations where ALIGN-2 is employed for nucleic acid sequencecomparisons, the % nucleic acid sequence identity of a given nucleicacid sequence C to, with, or against a given nucleic acid sequence D(which can alternatively be phrased as a given nucleic acid sequence Cthat has or comprises a certain % nucleic acid sequence identity to,with, or against a given nucleic acid sequence D) is calculated asfollows:100 times the fraction W/Zwhere W is the number of nucleotides scored as identical matches by thesequence alignment program ALIGN-2 in that program's alignment of C andD, and where Z is the total number of nucleotides in D. It will beappreciated that where the length of nucleic acid sequence C is notequal to the length of nucleic acid sequence D, the % nucleic acidsequence identity of C to D will not equal the % nucleic acid sequenceidentity of D to C. As examples of % nucleic acid sequence identitycalculations, Tables 4 and 5, demonstrate how to calculate the % nucleicacid sequence identity of the nucleic acid sequence designated“Comparison DNA” to the nucleic acid sequence designated “PRO-DNA”,wherein “PRO-DNA” represents a hypothetical PRO-encoding nucleic acidsequence of interest, “Comparison DNA” represents the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid molecule against which the “PRO-DNA” nucleicacid molecule of interest is being compared, and “N”, “L” and “V” eachrepresent different hypothetical nucleotides.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, all % nucleic acid sequenceidentity values used herein are obtained as described in the immediatelypreceding paragraph using the ALIGN-2 computer program. However, %nucleic acid sequence identity values may also be obtained as describedbelow by using the WU-BLAST-2 computer program (Altschul et al., Methodsin Enzymology 266:460-480 (1996)). Most of the WU-BLAST-2 searchparameters are set to the default values. Those not set to defaultvalues, i.e., the adjustable parameters, are set with the followingvalues: overlap span=1, overlap fraction=0.125, word threshold (T)=11,and scoring matrix=BLOSUM62. When WU-BLAST-2 is employed, a % nucleicacid sequence identity value is determined by dividing (a) the number ofmatching identical nucleotides between the nucleic acid sequence of thePRO polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid molecule of interest having asequence derived from the native sequence PRO polypeptide-encodingnucleic acid and the comparison nucleic acid molecule of interest (i.e.,the sequence against which the PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleic acidmolecule of interest is being compared which may be a variant PROpolynucleotide) as determined by WU-BLAST-2 by (b) the total number ofnucleotides of the PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid molecule ofinterest. For example, in the statement “an isolated nucleic acidmolecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence A which has or having atleast 80% nucleic acid sequence identity to the nucleic acid sequenceB”, the nucleic acid sequence A is the comparison nucleic acid moleculeof interest and the nucleic acid sequence B is the nucleic acid sequenceof the PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid molecule of interest.

Percent nucleic acid sequence identity may also be determined using thesequence comparison program NCBI-BLAST2 (Altschul et al., Nucleic AcidsRes. 25:3389-3402 (1997)). The NCBI-BLAST2 sequence comparison programmay be obtained from the National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Md.NCBI-BLAST2 uses several search parameters, wherein all of those searchparameters are set to default values including, for example, unmask=yes,strand=all, expected occurrences=10, minimum low complexitylength=15/5multi-pass e-value=0.01, constant for multi-pass=25, dropofffor final gapped alignment=25 and scoring matrix=BLOSUM62.

In situations where NCBI-BLAST2 is employed for sequence comparisons,the % nucleic acid sequence identity of a given nucleic acid sequence Cto, with, or against a given nucleic acid sequence D (which canalternatively be phrased as a given nucleic acid sequence C that has orcomprises a certain % nucleic acid sequence identity to, with, oragainst a given nucleic acid sequence D) is calculated as follows:100 times the fraction W/Zwhere W is the number of nucleotides scored as identical matches by thesequence alignment program NCBI-BLAST2 in that program's alignment of Cand D, and where Z is the total number of nucleotides in D. It will beappreciated that where the length of nucleic acid sequence C is notequal to the length of nucleic acid sequence D, the % nucleic acidsequence identity of C to D will not equal the % nucleic acid sequenceidentity of D to C.

In other embodiments, PRO variant polynucleotides are nucleic acidmolecules that encode an active PRO polypeptide and which are capable ofhybridizing, preferably under stringent hybridization and washconditions, to nucleotide sequences encoding a full-length PROpolypeptide as disclosed herein. PRO variant polypeptides may be thosethat are encoded by a PRO variant polynucleotide.

“Isolated,” when used to describe the various polypeptides disclosedherein, means polypeptide that has been identified and separated and/orrecovered from a component of its natural environment. Contaminantcomponents of its natural environment are materials that would typicallyinterfere with diagnostic or therapeutic uses for the polypeptide, andmay include enzymes, hormones, and other proteinaceous ornon-proteinaceous solutes. In preferred embodiments, the polypeptidewill be purified (1) to a degree sufficient to obtain at least 15residues of N-terminal or internal amino acid sequence by use of aspinning cup sequenator, or (2) to homogeneity by SDS-PAGE undernon-reducing or reducing conditions using Coomassie blue or, preferably,silver stain. Isolated polypeptide includes polypeptide in situ withinrecombinant cells, since at least one component of the PRO polypeptidenatural environment will not be present. Ordinarily, however, isolatedpolypeptide will be prepared by at least one purification step.

An “isolated” PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid or otherpolypeptide-encoding nucleic acid is a nucleic acid molecule that isidentified and separated from at least one contaminant nucleic acidmolecule with which it is ordinarily associated in the natural source ofthe polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid. An isolated polypeptide-encodingnucleic acid molecule is other than in the form or setting in which itis found in nature. Isolated polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid moleculestherefore are distinguished from the specific polypeptide-encodingnucleic acid molecule as it exists in natural cells. However, anisolated polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid molecule includespolypeptide-encoding nucleic acid molecules contained in cells thatordinarily express the polypeptide where, for example, the nucleic acidmolecule is in a chromosomal location different from that of naturalcells.

The term “control sequences” refers to DNA sequences necessary for theexpression of an operably linked coding sequence in a particular hostorganism. The control sequences that are suitable for prokaryotes, forexample, include a promoter, optionally an operator sequence, and aribosome binding site. Eukaryotic cells are known to utilize promoters,polyadenylation signals, and enhancers.

Nucleic acid is “operably linked” when it is placed into a functionalrelationship with another nucleic acid sequence. For example, DNA for apresequence or secretory leader is operably linked to DNA for apolypeptide if it is expressed as a preprotein that participates in thesecretion of the polypeptide; a promoter or enhancer is operably linkedto a coding sequence if it affects the transcription of the sequence; ora ribosome binding site is operably linked to a coding sequence if it ispositioned so as to facilitate translation. Generally, “operably linked”means that the DNA sequences being linked are contiguous, and, in thecase of a secretory leader, contiguous and in reading phase. However,enhancers do not have to be contiguous. Linking is accomplished byligation at convenient restriction sites. If such sites do not exist,the synthetic oligonucleotide adaptors or linkers are used in accordancewith conventional practice.

The term “antibody” is used in the broadest sense and specificallycovers, for example, single anti-PRO monoclonal antibodies (includingagonist, antagonist, and neutralizing antibodies), anti-PRO antibodycompositions with polyepitopic specificity, single chain anti-PROantibodies, and fragments of anti-PRO antibodies (see below). The term“monoclonal antibody” as used herein refers to an antibody obtained froma population of substantially homogeneous antibodies, i.e., theindividual antibodies comprising the population are identical except forpossible naturally-occurring mutations that may be present in minoramounts.

“Stringency” of hybridization reactions is readily determinable by oneof ordinary skill in the art, and generally is an empirical calculationdependent upon probe length, washing temperature, and saltconcentration. In general, longer probes require higher temperatures forproper annealing, while shorter probes need lower temperatures.Hybridization generally depends on the ability of denatured DNA toreanneal when complementary strands are present in an environment belowtheir melting temperature. The higher the degree of desired homologybetween the probe and hybridizable sequence, the higher the relativetemperature which can be used. As a result, it follows that higherrelative temperatures would tend to make the reaction conditions morestringent, while lower temperatures less so. For additional details andexplanation of stringency of hybridization reactions, see Ausubel etal., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Wiley IntersciencePublishers, (1995).

“Stringent conditions” or “high stringency conditions”, as definedherein, may be identified by those that: (1) employ low ionic strengthand high temperature for washing, for example 0.015 M sodiumchloride/0.0015 M sodium citrate/0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate at 50° C.;(2) employ during hybridization a denaturing agent, such as formamide,for example, 50% (v/v) formamide with 0.1% bovine serum albumin/0.1%Ficoll/0.1% polyvinylpyrrolidone/50 mM sodium phosphate buffer at pH 6.5with 750 mM sodium chloride, 75 mM sodium citrate at 42° C.; or (3)employ 50% formamide, 5×SSC (0.75 M NaCl, 0.075 M sodium citrate), 50 mMsodium phosphate (pH 6.8), 0.1% sodium pyrophosphate, 5× Denhardt'ssolution, sonicated salmon sperm DNA (50 μg/ml), 0.1% SDS, and 10%dextran sulfate at 42° C., with washes at 42° C. in 0.2×SSC (sodiumchloride/sodium citrate) and 50% formamide at 55° C., followed by ahigh-stringency wash consisting of 0.1×SSC containing EDTA at 55° C.

“Moderately stringent conditions” may be identified as described bySambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, New York: ColdSpring Harbor Press, 1989, and include the use of washing solution andhybridization conditions (e.g., temperature, ionic strength and % SDS)less stringent that those described above. An example of moderatelystringent conditions is overnight incubation at 37° C. in a solutioncomprising: 20% formamide, 5×SSC (150 mM NaCl, 15 mM trisodium citrate),50 mM sodium phosphate (pH 7.6), 5×Denhardt's solution, 10% dextransulfate, and 20 mg/ml denatured sheared salmon sperm DNA, followed bywashing the filters in 1×SSC at about 37-50° C. The skilled artisan willrecognize how to adjust the temperature, ionic strength, etc. asnecessary to accommodate factors such as probe length and the like.

The term “epitope tagged” when used herein refers to a chimericpolypeptide comprising a PRO polypeptide fused to a “tag polypeptide”.The tag polypeptide has enough residues to provide an epitope againstwhich an antibody can be made, yet is short enough such that it does notinterfere with activity of the polypeptide to which it is fused. The tagpolypeptide preferably also is fairly unique so that the antibody doesnot substantially cross-react with other epitopes. Suitable tagpolypeptides generally have at least six amino acid residues and usuallybetween about 8 and 50 amino acid residues (preferably, between about 10and 20 amino acid residues).

As used herein, the term “immunoadhesin” designates antibody-likemolecules which combine the binding specificity of a heterologousprotein (an “adhesin”) with the effector functions of immunoglobulinconstant domains. Structurally, the immunoadhesins comprise a fusion ofan amino acid sequence with the desired binding specificity which isother than the antigen recognition and binding site of an antibody(i.e., is “heterologous”), and an immunoglobulin constant domainsequence. The adhesin part of an immunoadhesin molecule typically is acontiguous amino acid sequence comprising at least the binding site of areceptor or a ligand. The immunoglobulin constant domain sequence in theimmunoadhesin may be obtained from any immunoglobulin, such as IgG-1,IgG-2, IgG-3, or IgG-4 subtypes, IgA (including IgA-1 and IgA-2), IgE,IgD or IgM.

“Active” or “activity” for the purposes herein refers to form(s) of aPRO polypeptide which retain a biological and/or an immunologicalactivity of native or naturally-occurring PRO, wherein “biological”activity refers to a biological function (either inhibitory orstimulatory) caused by a native or naturally-occurring PRO other thanthe ability to induce the production of an antibody against an antigenicepitope possessed by a native or naturally-occurring PRO and an“immunological” activity refers to the ability to induce the productionof an antibody against an antigenic epitope possessed by a native ornaturally-occurring PRO.

The term “antagonist” is used in the broadest sense, and includes anymolecule that partially or fully blocks, inhibits, or neutralizes abiological activity of a native PRO polypeptide disclosed herein. In asimilar manner, the term “agonist” is used in the broadest sense andincludes any molecule that mimics a biological activity of a native PROpolypeptide disclosed herein. Suitable agonist or antagonist moleculesspecifically include agonist or antagonist antibodies or antibodyfragments, fragments or amino acid sequence variants of native PROpolypeptides, peptides, antisense oligonucleotides, small organicmolecules, etc. Methods for identifying agonists or antagonists of a PROpolypeptide may comprise contacting a PRO polypeptide with a candidateagonist or antagonist molecule and measuring a detectable change in oneor more biological activities normally associated with the PROpolypeptide.

“Treatment” refers to both therapeutic treatment and prophylacetic orpreventative measures, wherein the object is to prevent or slow down(lessen) the targeted pathologic condition or disorder. Those in need oftreatment include those already with the disorder as well as those proneto have the disorder or those in whom the disorder is to be prevented.

“Chronic” administration refers to administration of the agent(s) in acontinuous mode as opposed to an acute mode, so as to maintain theinitial therapeutic effect (activity) for an extended period of time.“Intermittent” administration is treatment that is not consecutivelydone without interruption, but rather is cyclic in nature.

“Mammal” for purposes of treatment refers to any animal classified as amammal, including humans, domestic and farm animals, and zoo, sports, orpet animals, such as dogs, cats, cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, goats,rabbits, etc. Preferably, the mammal is human.

Administration “in combination with” one or more further therapeuticagents includes simultaneous (concurrent) and consecutive administrationin any order.

“Carriers” as used herein include pharmaceutically acceptable carriers,excipients, or stabilizers which are nontoxic to the cell or mammalbeing exposed thereto at the dosages and concentrations employed. Oftenthe physiologically acceptable carrier is an aqueous pH bufferedsolution. Examples of physiologically acceptable carriers includebuffers such as phosphate, citrate, and other organic acids;antioxidants including ascorbic acid; low molecular weight (less thanabout 10 residues) polypeptide; proteins, such as serum albumin,gelatin, or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such aspolyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids such as glycine, glutamine,asparagine, arginine or lysine; monosaccharides, disaccharides, andother carbohydrates including glucose, mannose, or dextrins; chelatingagents such as EDTA; sugar alcohols such as mannitol or sorbitol;salt-forming counterions such as sodium; and/or nonionic surfactantssuch as TWEEN® (ICI Americas Inc., Bridgewater, N.J.), polyethyleneglycol (PEG), and PLURONICS® (BASF Corporation, Mount Olive. N.J.).

“Antibody fragments” comprise a portion of an intact antibody,preferably the antigen binding or variable region of the intactantibody. Examples of antibody fragments include Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)₂, andFv fragments; diabodies; linear antibodies (Zapata et al., Protein Eng.8(10): 1057-1062 [1995]); single-chain antibody molecules; andmultispecific antibodies formed from antibody fragments.

Papain digestion of antibodies produces two identical antigen-bindingfragments, called “Fab” fragments, each with a single antigen-bindingsite, and a residual “Fc” fragment, a designation reflecting the abilityto crystallize readily. Pepsin treatment yields an F(ab′)₂ fragment thathas two antigencombining sites and is still capable of cross-linkingantigen.

“Fv” is the minimum antibody fragment which contains a completeantigen-recognition and -binding site. This region consists of a dimerof one heavy- and one light-chain variable domain in tight, non-covalentassociation. It is in this configuration that the three CDRs of eachvariable domain interact to define an antigen-binding site on thesurface of the V_(H)-V_(L) dimer. Collectively, the six CDRs conferantigen-binding specificity to the antibody. However, even a singlevariable domain (or half of an Fv comprising only three CDRs specificfor an antigen) has the ability to recognize and bind antigen, althoughat a lower affinity than the entire binding site.

The Fab fragment also contains the constant domain of the light chainand the first constant domain (CH1) of the heavy chain. Fab fragmentsdiffer from Fab′ fragments by the addition of a few residues at thecarboxy terminus of the heavy chain CH1 domain including one or morecysteines from the antibody hinge region. Fab′-SH is the designationherein for Fab′ in which the cysteine residue(s) of the constant domainsbear a free thiol group. F(ab′)₂ antibody fragments originally wereproduced as pairs of Fab′ fragments which have hinge cysteines betweenthem. Other chemical couplings of antibody fragments are also known.

The “light chains” of antibodies (immunoglobulins) from any vertebratespecies can be assigned to one of two clearly distinct types, calledkappa and lambda, based on the amino acid sequences of their constantdomains.

Depending on the amino acid sequence of the constant domain of theirheavy chains, immunoglobulins can be assigned to different classes.There are five major classes of immunoglobulins: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, andIgM, and several of these may be further divided into subclasses(isotypes), e.g., IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA, and IgA2.

“Single-chain Fv” or “sFv” antibody fragments comprise the V_(H) andV_(L) domains of antibody, wherein these domains are present in a singlepolypeptide chain. Preferably, the Fv polypeptide further comprises apolypeptide linker between the V_(H) and V_(L) domains which enables thesFv to form the desired structure for antigen binding. For a review ofsFv, see Pluckthun in The Pharmacology of Monoclonal Antibodies, vol.113, Rosenburg and Moore eds., Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 269-315(1994).

The term “diabodies” refers to small antibody fragments with twoantigen-binding sites, which fragments comprise a heavy-chain variabledomain (V_(H)) connected to a light-chain variable domain (V_(L)) in thesame polypeptide chain (V_(H)-V_(L)). By using a linker that is tooshort to allow pairing between the two domains on the same chain, thedomains are forced to pair with the complementary domains of anotherchain and create two antigen-binding sites. Diabodies are described morefully in, for example, EP 404,097; WO 93/11161; and Hollinger et al.,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90:6444-6448 (1993).

An “isolated” antibody is one which has been identified and separatedand/or recovered from a component of its natural environment.Contaminant components of its natural environment are materials whichwould interfere with diagnostic or therapeutic uses for the antibody,and may include enzymes, hormones, and other proteinaceous ornonproteinaceous solutes. In preferred embodiments, the antibody will bepurified (1) to greater than 95% by weight of antibody as determined bythe Lowry method, and most preferably more than 99% by weight, (2) to adegree sufficient to obtain at least 15 residues of N-terminal orinternal amino acid sequence by use of a spinning cup sequenator, or (3)to homogeneity by SDS-PAGE under reducing or nonreducing conditionsusing Coomassie blue or, preferably, silver stain. Isolated antibodyincludes the antibody in situ within recombinant cells since at leastone component of the antibody's natural environment will not be present.Ordinarily, however, isolated antibody will be prepared by at least onepurification step.

An antibody that “specifically binds to” or is “specific for” aparticular polypeptide or an epitope on a particular polypeptide is onethat binds to that particular polypeptide or epitope on a particularpolypeptide without substantially binding to any other polypeptide orpolypeptide epitope.

The word “label” when used herein refers to a detectable compound orcomposition which is conjugated directly or indirectly to the antibodyso as to generate a “labeled” antibody. The label may be detectable byitself (e.g. radioisotope labels or fluorescent labels) or, in the caseof an enzymatic label, may catalyze chemical alteration of a substratecompound or composition which is detectable.

By “solid phase” is meant a non-aqueous matrix to which the antibody ofthe present invention can adhere. Examples of solid phases encompassedherein include those formed partially or entirely of glass (e.g.,controlled pore glass), polysaccharides (e.g., agarose),polyacrylamides, polystyrene, polyvinyl alcohol and silicones. Incertain embodiments, depending on the context, the solid phase cancomprise the well of an assay plate; in others it is a purificationcolumn (e.g., an affinity chromatography column). This term alsoincludes a discontinuous solid phase of discrete particles, such asthose described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,149.

A “liposome” is a small vesicle composed of various types of lipids,phospholipids and/or surfactant which is useful for delivery of a drug(such as a PRO polypeptide or antibody thereto) to a mammal. Thecomponents of the liposome are commonly arranged in a bilayer formation,similar to the lipid arrangement of biological membranes.

A “small molecule” is defined herein to have a molecular weight belowabout 500 Daltons.

An “effective amount” of a polypeptide disclosed herein or an agonist orantagonist thereof is an amount sufficient to carry out a specificallystated purpose. An “effective amount” may be determined empirically andin a routine manner, in relation to the stated purpose.

TABLE 2 PRO XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (Length = 15 amino acids) ComparisonXXXXXYYYYYYY (Length = 12 amino acids) Protein % amino acid sequenceidentity = (the number of identically matching amino acid residuesbetween the two polypeptide sequences as determined by ALIGN-2) dividedby (the total number of amino acid residues of the PRO polypeptide) = 5divided by 15 = 33.3%

TABLE 3 PRO XXXXXXXXXX (Length = 10 amino acids) ComparisonXXXXXYYYYYYZZYZ (Length = 15 amino acids) Protein % amino acid sequenceidentity = (the number of identically matching amino acid residuesbetween the two polypeptide sequences as determined by ALIGN-2) dividedby (the total number of amino acid residues of the PRO polypeptide) = 5divided by 10 = 50%

TABLE 4 PRO-DNA NNNNNNNNNNNNNN (Length = 14 nucleotides) ComparisonNNNNNNLLLLLLLLLL (Length = 16 nucleotides) DNA % nucleic acid sequenceidentity = (the number of identically matching nucleotides between thetwo nucleic acid sequences as determined by ALIGN-2) divided by (thetotal number of nucleotides of the PRO-DNA nucleic acid sequence) = 6divided by 14 = 42.9%

TABLE 5 PRO-DNA NNNNNNNNNNNN (Length = 12 nucleotides) Comparison DNANNNNLLLVV (Length = 9 nucleotides) % nucleic acid sequence identity =(the number of identically matching nucleotides between the two nucleicacid sequences as determined by ALIGN-2) divided by (the total number ofnucleotides of the PRO-DNA nucleic acid sequence) = 4 divided by 12 =33.3%II. Compositions and Methods of the Invention

A. Full-Length PRO Polypeptides

The present invention provides newly identified and isolated nucleotidesequences encoding polypeptides referred to in the present applicationas PRO polypeptides. In particular, cDNAs encoding various PROpolypeptides have been identified and isolated, as disclosed in furtherdetail in the Examples below. It is noted that proteins produced inseparate expression rounds may be given different PRO numbers but theUNQ number is unique for any given DNA and the encoded protein, and willnot be changed. However, for sake of simplicity, in the presentspecification the protein encoded by the full length native nucleic acidmolecules disclosed herein as well as all further native homologues andvariants included in the foregoing definition of PRO, will be referredto as “PRO/number”, regardless of their origin or mode of preparation.

As disclosed in the Examples below, various cDNA clones have beendeposited with the ATCC®. The actual nucleotide sequences of thoseclones can readily be determined by the skilled artisan by sequencing ofthe deposited clone using routine methods in the art. The predictedamino acid sequence can be determined from the nucleotide sequence usingroutine skill. For the PRO polypeptides and encoding nucleic acidsdescribed herein, Applicants have identified what is believed to be thereading frame best identifiable with the sequence information availableat the time.

B. PRO Polypeptide Variants

In addition to the full-length native sequence PRO polypeptidesdescribed herein, it is contemplated that PRO variants can be prepared.PRO variants can be prepared by introducing appropriate nucleotidechanges into the PRO DNA, and/or by synthesis of the desired PROpolypeptide. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that amino acidchanges may alter post-translational processes of the PRO, such aschanging the number or position of glycosylation sites or altering themembrane anchoring characteristics.

Variations in the native full-length sequence PRO or in various domainsof the PRO described herein, can be made, for example, using any of thetechniques and guidelines for conservative and non-conservativemutations set forth, for instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,934.Variations may be a substitution, deletion or insertion of one or morecodons encoding the PRO that results in a change in the amino acidsequence of the PRO as compared with the native sequence PRO. Optionallythe variation is by substitution of at least one amino acid with anyother amino acid in one or more of the domains of the PRO. Guidance indetermining which amino acid residue may be inserted, substituted ordeleted without adversely affecting the desired activity may be found bycomparing the sequence of the PRO with that of homologous known proteinmolecules and minimizing the number of amino acid sequence changes madein regions of high homology. Amino acid substitutions can be the resultof replacing one amino acid with another amino acid having similarstructural and/or chemical properties, such as the replacement of aleucine with a serine, i.e., conservative amino acid replacements.Insertions or deletions may optionally be in the range of about 1 to 5amino acids. The variation allowed may be determined by systematicallymaking insertions, deletions or substitutions of amino acids in thesequence and testing the resulting variants for activity exhibited bythe full-length or mature native sequence.

PRO polypeptide fragments are provided herein. Such fragments may betruncated at the N-terminus or C-terminus, or may lack internalresidues, for example, when compared with a full length native protein.Certain fragments lack amino acid residues that are not essential for adesired biological activity of the PRO polypeptide.

PRO fragments may be prepared by any of a number of conventionaltechniques. Desired peptide fragments may be chemically synthesized. Analternative approach involves generating PRO fragments by enzymaticdigestion, e.g., by treating the protein with an enzyme known to cleaveproteins at sites defined by particular amino acid residues, or bydigesting the DNA with suitable restriction enzymes and isolating thedesired fragment. Yet another suitable technique involves isolating andamplifying a DNA fragment encoding a desired polypeptide fragment, bypolymerase chain reaction (PCR). Oligonucleotides that define thedesired termini of the DNA fragment are employed at the 5′ and 3′primers in the PCR. Preferably, PRO polypeptide fragments share at leastone biological and/or immunological activity with the native PROpolypeptide disclosed herein.

In particular embodiments, conservative substitutions of interest areshown in Table 6 under the heading of preferred substitutions. If suchsubstitutions result in a change in biological activity, then moresubstantial changes, denominated exemplary substitutions in Table 6, oras further described below in reference to amino acid classes, areintroduced and the products screened.

TABLE 6 Original Exemplary Preferred Residue Substitutions SubstitutionsAla (A) val; leu; ile val Arg (R) lys; gln; asn lys Asn (N) gln; his;lys; arg gln Asp (D) glu glu Cys (C) ser ser Gln (Q) asn asn Glu (E) aspasp Gly (G) pro; ala ala His (H) asn; gln; lys; arg arg Ile (I) leu;val; met; ala; phe; leu norleucine Leu (L) norleucine; ile; val; ilemet; ala; phe Lys (K) arg; gln; asn arg Met (M) leu; phe; ile leu Phe(F) leu; val; ile; ala; tyr leu Pro (P) ala ala Ser (S) thr thr Thr (T)ser ser Trp (W) tyr; phe tyr Tyr (Y) trp; phe; thr; ser phe Val (V) ile;leu; met; phe; leu ala; norleucine

Substantial modifications in function or immunological identity of thePRO polypeptide are accomplished by selecting substitutions that differsignificantly in their effect on maintaining (a) the structure of thepolypeptide backbone in the area of the substitution, for example, as asheet or helical conformation, (b) the charge or hydrophobicity of themolecule at the target site, or (c) the bulk of the side chain.Naturally occurring residues are divided into groups based on commonside-chain properties:

-   (1) hydrophobic: norleucine, met, ala, val, leu, ile;-   (2) neutral hydrophilic: cys, ser, thr;-   (3) acidic: asp, glu;-   (4) basic: asn, gin, his, lys, arg;-   (5) residues that influence chain orientation: gly, pro; and-   (6) aromatic: trp, tyr, phe.

Non-conservative substitutions will entail exchanging a member of one ofthese classes for another class. Such substituted residues also may beintroduced into the conservative substitution sites or, more preferably,into the remaining (non-conserved) sites.

The variations can be made using methods known in the art such asoligonucleotide-mediated (site-directed) mutagenesis, alanine scanning,and PCR mutagenesis. Site-directed mutagenesis [Carter et al., Nucl.Acids Res., 13:4331 (1986); Zoller et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 10:6487(1987)], cassette mutagenesis [Wells et al., Gene, 34:315 (1985)],restriction selection mutagenesis [Wells et al., Philos. Trans. R. Soc.London SerA, 317:415 (1986)] or other known techniques can be performedon the cloned DNA to produce the PRO variant DNA.

Scanning amino acid analysis can also be employed to identify one ormore amino acids along a contiguous sequence. Among the preferredscanning amino acids are relatively small, neutral amino acids. Suchamino acids include alanine, glycine, serine, and cysteine. Alanine istypically a preferred scanning amino acid among this group because iteliminates the side-chain beyond the beta-carbon and is less likely toalter the main-chain conformation of the variant [Cunningham and Wells,Science, 244: 1081-1085 (1989)]. Alanine is also typically preferredbecause it is the most common amino acid. Further, it is frequentlyfound in both buried and exposed positions [Creighton, The Proteins,(W.H. Freeman & Co., N.Y.); Chothia, J. Mol. Biol., 150:1 (1976)]. Ifalanine substitution does not yield adequate amounts of variant, anisoteric amino acid can be used.

C. Modifications of PRO

Covalent modifications of PRO are included within the scope of thisinvention. One type of covalent modification includes reacting targetedamino acid residues of a PRO polypeptide with an organic derivatizingagent that is capable of reacting with selected side chains or the N- orC-terminal residues of the PRO. Derivatization with bifunctional agentsis useful, for instance, for crosslinking PRO to a water-insolublesupport matrix or surface for use in the method for purifying anti-PROantibodies, and vice-versa. Commonly used crosslinking agents include,e.g., 1,1-bis(diazoacetyl)-2-phenylethane, glutaraldehyde,N-hydroxysuccinimide esters, for example, esters with 4-azidosalicylicacid, homobifunctional imidoesters, including disuccinimidyl esters suchas 3,3′-dithiobis(succinimidylpropionate), bifunctional maleimides suchas bis-N-maleimido-1,8-octane and agents such asmethyl-3-[(p-azidophenyl)dithio]propioimidate.

Other modifications include deamidation of glutaminyl and asparaginylresidues to the corresponding glutamyl and aspartyl residues,respectively, hydroxylation of proline and lysine, phosphorylation ofhydroxyl groups of seryl or threonyl residues, methylation of theα-amino groups of lysine, arginine, and histidine side chains [T. E.Creighton, Proteins: Structure and Molecular Properties, W.H. Freeman &Co., San Francisco, pp. 79-86 (1983)], acetylation of the N-terminalamine, and amidation of any C-terminal carboxyl group.

Another type of covalent modification of the PRO polypeptide includedwithin the scope of this invention comprises altering the nativeglycosylation pattern of the polypeptide. “Altering the nativeglycosylation pattern” is intended for purposes herein to mean deletingone or more carbohydrate moieties found in native sequence PRO (eitherby removing the underlying glycosylation site or by deleting theglycosylation by chemical and/or enzymatic means), and/or adding one ormore glycosylation sites that are not present in the native sequencePRO. In addition, the phrase includes qualitative changes in theglycosylation of the native proteins, involving a change in the natureand proportions of the various carbohydrate moieties present.

Addition of glycosylation sites to the PRO polypeptide may beaccomplished by altering the amino acid sequence. The alteration may bemade, for example, by the addition of, or substitution by, one or moreserine or threonine residues to the native sequence PRO (for O-linkedglycosylation sites). The PRO amino acid sequence may optionally bealtered through changes at the DNA level, particularly by mutating theDNA encoding the PRO polypeptide at preselected bases such that codonsare generated that will translate into the desired amino acids.

Another means of increasing the number of carbohydrate moieties on thePRO polypeptide is by chemical or enzymatic coupling of glycosides tothe polypeptide. Such methods are described in the art, e.g., in WO87/05330 published 11 Sep. 1987, and in Aplin and Wriston, CRC Crit.Rev. Biochem., pp. 259-306 (1981).

Removal of carbohydrate moieties present on the PRO polypeptide may beaccomplished chemically or enzymatically or by mutational substitutionof codons encoding for amino acid residues that serve as targets forglycosylation. Chemical deglycosylation techniques are known in the artand described, for instance, by Hakimuddin, et al., Arch. Biochem.Biophys., 259:52 (1987) and by Edge et al., Anal. Biochem., 118:131(1981). Enzymatic cleavage of carbohydrate moieties on polypeptides canbe achieved by the use of a variety of endo- and exo-glycosidases asdescribed by Thotakura et al., Meth. Enzymol., 138:350 (1987).

Another type of covalent modification of PRO comprises linking the PROpolypeptide to one of a variety of nonproteinaceous polymers, e.g.,polyethylene glycol (PEG), polypropylene glycol, or polyoxyalkylenes, inthe manner set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,640,835; 4,496,689; 4,301,144;4,670,417; 4,791,192 or 4,179,337.

The PRO of the present invention may also be modified in a way to form achimeric molecule comprising PRO fused to another, heterologouspolypeptide or amino acid sequence.

In one embodiment, such a chimeric molecule comprises a fusion of thePRO with a tag polypeptide which provides an epitope to which ananti-tag antibody can selectively bind. The epitope tag is generallyplaced at the amino- or carboxyl- terminus of the PRO. The presence ofsuch epitope-tagged forms of the PRO can be detected using an antibodyagainst the tag polypeptide. Also, provision of the epitope tag enablesthe PRO to be readily purified by affinity purification using ananti-tag antibody or another type of affinity matrix that binds to theepitope tag. Various tag polypeptides and their respective antibodiesare well known in the art. Examples include poly-histidine (poly-his) orpoly-histidine-glycine (poly-his-gly) tags; the flu HA tag polypeptideand its antibody 12CA5 [Field et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 8:2159-2165(1988)]; the c-myc tag and the 8F9, 3C7, 6E10, G4, B7 and 9E10antibodies thereto [Evan et al., Molecular and Cellular Biology,5:3610-3616 (1985)]; and the Herpes Simplex virus glycoprotein D (gD)tag and its antibody [Paborsky et al., Protein Engineering, 3(6):547-553(1990)]. Other tag polypeptides include the Flag-peptide [Hopp et al.,BioTechnology, 6:1204-1210 (1988)]; the KT3 epitope peptide [Martin etal., Science, 255:192-194 (1992)]; an α-tubulin epitope peptide [Skinneret al., J. Biol. Chem., 266:15163-15166 (1991)]; and the T7 gene 10protein peptide tag [Lutz-Freyermuth et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA,87:6393-6397 (1990)].

In an alternative embodiment, the chimeric molecule may comprise afusion of the PRO with an immunoglobulin or a particular region of animmunoglobulin. For a bivalent form of the chimeric molecule (alsoreferred to as an “immunoadhesin”), such a fusion could be to the Fcregion of an IgG molecule. The Ig fusions preferably include thesubstitution of a soluble (transmembrane domain deleted or inactivated)form of a PRO polypeptide in place of at least one variable regionwithin an Ig molecule. In a particularly preferred embodiment, theimmunoglobulin fusion includes the hinge, CH2 and CH3, or the hinge,CH1, CH2 and CH3 regions of an IgG1 molecule. For the production ofimmunoglobulin fusions see also U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,130 issued Jun. 27,

D. Preparation of PRO

The description below relates primarily to production of PRO byculturing cells transformed or transfected with a vector containingPRO-nucleic acid. It is, of course, contemplated that alternativemethods, which are well known in the art, may be employed to preparePRO. For instance, the PRO sequence, or portions thereof, may beproduced by direct peptide synthesis using solid-phase techniques [see,e.g., Stewart et al., Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis, W.H. Freeman Co.,San Francisco, Calif. (1969); Merrifield, J. Am. Chem. Soc.,85:2149-2154 (1963)]. In vitro protein synthesis may be performed usingmanual techniques or by automation. Automated synthesis may beaccomplished, for instance, using an Applied Biosystems PeptideSynthesizer (Foster City, Calif.) using manufacturer's instructions.Various portions of the PRO may be chemically synthesized separately andcombined using chemical or enzymatic methods to produce the full-lengthPRO.

1. Isolation of DNA Encoding PRO

DNA encoding PRO may be obtained from a cDNA library prepared fromtissue believed to possess the PRO mRNA and to express it at adetectable level. Accordingly, human PRO DNA can be convenientlyobtained from a cDNA library prepared from human tissue, such asdescribed in the Examples. The PRO-encoding gene may also be obtainedfrom a genomic library or by known synthetic procedures (e.g., automatednucleic acid synthesis).

Libraries can be screened with probes (such as antibodies to the PRO oroligonucleotides of at least about 20-80 bases) designed to identify thegene of interest or the protein encoded by it. Screening the cDNA orgenomic library with the selected probe may be conducted using standardprocedures, such as described in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: ALaboratory Manual (New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1989).An alternative means to isolate the gene encoding PRO is to use PCRmethodology [Sambrook et al., supra; Dieffenbach et al., PCR Primer: ALaboratory Manual (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1995)].

The Examples below describe techniques for screening a cDNA library. Theoligonucleotide sequences selected as probes should be of sufficientlength and sufficiently unambiguous that false positives are minimized.The oligonucleotide is preferably labeled such that it can be detectedupon hybridization to DNA in the library being screened. Methods oflabeling are well known in the art, and include the use of radiolabelslike ³²P-labeled ATP, biotinylation or enzyme labeling. Hybridizationconditions, including moderate stringency and high stringency, areprovided in Sambrook et al., supra.

Sequences identified in such library screening methods can be comparedand aligned to other known sequences deposited and available in publicdatabases such as GENBANK® (US Department of Health and Human Services.Bethesda, Md.) or other private sequence databases. Sequence identity(at either the amino acid or nucleotide level) within defined regions ofthe molecule or across the full-length sequence can be determined usingmethods known in the art and as described herein.

Nucleic acid having protein coding sequence may be obtained by screeningselected cDNA or genomic libraries using the deduced amino acid sequencedisclosed herein for the first time, and, if necessary, usingconventional primer extension procedures as described in Sambrook etal., supra, to detect precursors and processing intermediates of mRNAthat may not have been reverse-transcribed into cDNA.

2. Selection and Transformation of Host Cells

Host cells are transfected or transformed with expression or cloningvectors described herein for PRO production and cultured in conventionalnutrient media modified as appropriate for inducing promoters, selectingtransformants, or amplifying the genes encoding the desired sequences.The culture conditions, such as media, temperature, pH and the like, canbe selected by the skilled artisan without undue experimentation. Ingeneral, principles, protocols, and practical techniques for maximizingthe productivity of cell cultures can be found in Mammalian CellBiotechnology: a Practical Approach, M. Butler, ed. (IRL Press, 1991)and Sambrook et al., supra.

Methods of eukaryotic cell transfection and prokaryotic celltransformation are known to the ordinarily skilled artisan, for example,CaCl₂, CaPO₄, liposome-mediated and electroporation. Depending on thehost cell used, transformation is performed using standard techniquesappropriate to such cells. The calcium treatment employing calciumchloride, as described in Sambrook et al., supra, or electroporation isgenerally used for prokaryotes. Infection with Agrobacterium tumefaciensis used for transformation of certain plant cells, as described by Shawet al., Gene, 23:315 (1983) and WO 89/05859 published 29 Jun. 1989. Formammalian cells without such cell walls, the calcium phosphateprecipitation method of Graham and van der Eb, Virology, 52:456-457(1978) can be employed. General aspects of mammalian cell host systemtransfections have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,216.Transformations into yeast are typically carried out according to themethod of Van Solingen et al., J. Bact., 130:946 (1977) and Hsiao etal., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA), 76:3829 (1979). However, othermethods for introducing DNA into cells, such as by nuclearmicroinjection, electroporation, bacterial protoplast fusion with intactcells, or polycations, e.g., polybrene, polyornithine, may also be used.For various techniques for transforming mammalian cells, see Keown etal., Methods in Enzymology, 185:527-537 (1990) and Mansour et al.,Nature, 336:348-352 (1988).

Suitable host cells for cloning or expressing the DNA in the vectorsherein include prokaryote, yeast, or higher eukaryote cells. Suitableprokaryotes include but are not limited to eubacteria, such asGram-negative or Gram-positive organisms, for example,Enterobacteriaceae such as E. coli. Various E. coli strains are publiclyavailable, such as E. coli K12 strain MM294 (ATCC® 31,446); E. coliX1776 (ATCC® 31,537; E. coli strain W3110 (ATCC® 27,325) and K5 772(ATCC® 53,635). Other suitable prokaryotic host cells includeEnterobacteriaceae such as Escherichia, e.g., E. coli, Enterobacter,Erwinia, Klebsiella, Proteus, Salmonella, e.g., Salmonella typhimurium,Serratia, e.g., Serratia marcescans, and Shigella, as well as Bacillisuch as B. subtilis and B. licheniformis (e.g., B. licheniformis 41Pdisclosed in DD 266,710 published 12 Apr. 1989), Pseudomonas such as P.aeruginosa, and Streptomyces. These examples are illustrative ratherthan limiting. Strain W3110 is one particularly preferred host or parenthost because it is a common host strain for recombinant DNA productfermentations. Preferably, the host cell secretes minimal amounts ofproteolytic enzymes. For example, strain W3110 may be modified to effecta genetic mutation in the genes encoding proteins endogenous to thehost, with examples of such hosts including E. coli W3110 strain 1A2,which has the complete genotype tonA ; E. coli W3110 strain 9E4, whichhas the complete genotype tonA ptr3; E. coli W3110 strain 27C7(ATCC®55,244), which has the complete genotype tonA ptr3 phoA E15(argF-lac)169 degP omp T kan^(r) ; E. coli W3110 strain 37D6, which hasthe complete genotype tonA ptr3 phoA E15 (argF-lac)169 degP ompT rbs7ilvG kan^(r) ; E. coli W3110 strain 40B4, which is strain 37D6 with anon-kanamycin resistant degP deletion mutation; and an E. coli strainhaving mutant periplasmic protease disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,783issued 7 Aug. 1990. Alternatively, in vitro methods of cloning, e.g.,PCR or other nucleic acid polymerase reactions, are suitable.

In addition to prokaryotes, eukaryotic microbes such as filamentousfungi or yeast are suitable cloning or expression hosts for PRO-encodingvectors. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a commonly used lower eukaryotichost microorganism. Others include Schizosaccharomyces pombe (Beach andNurse, Nature, 290: 140 [1981]; EP 139,383 published 2 May 1985);Kluyveromyces hosts (U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,529; Fleer et al.,Bio/Technology, 9:968-975 (1991)) such as, e.g., K. lactis (MW98-8C,CBS683, CBS4574; Louvencourt et al., J. Bacteriol., 154(2):737-742[1983]), K. fragilis (ATCC® 12,424), K. bulgaricus (ATCC® 16,045), K.wickeramii (ATCC® 24,178), K. waltii (ATCC® 56,500), K. drosophilarum(ATCC® 36,906; Van den Berg et al., Bio/Technology, 8:135 (1990)), K.thermotolerans, and K. marxianus; yarrowia (EP 402,226); Pichia pastoris(EP 183,070; Sreekrishna et al., J. Basic Microbiol., 28:265-278[1988]); Candida; Trichoderma reesia (EP 244,234); Neurospora crassa(Case et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 76:5259-5263 [1979]);Schwanniomyces such as Schwanniomyces occidentalis (EP 394,538 published31 Oct. 1990); and filamentous fungi such as, e.g., Neurospora,Penicillium, Tolypocladium (WO 91/00357 published 10 Jan. 1991), andAspergillus hosts such as A. nidulans (Ballance et al., Biochem. Biohys.Res. Commun., 112:284-289 [1983]; Tilburn et al., Gene, 26:205-221[1983]; Yelton et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 81:1470-1474 [1984])and A. niger (Kelly and Hynes, EMBO J., 4:475-479 [1985]). Methylotropicyeasts are suitable herein and include, but are not limited to, yeastcapable of growth on methanol selected from the genera consisting ofHansenula, Candida, Kloeckera, Pichia, Saccharomyces, Torulopsis, andRhodotorula. A list of specific species that are exemplary of this classof yeasts may be found in C. Anthony, The Biochemistry of Methylotrophs,269 (1982).

Suitable host cells for the expression of glycosylated PRO are derivedfrom multicellular organisms. Examples of invertebrate cells includeinsect cells such as Drosophila S2 and Spodoptera Sf9as well as plantcells. Examples of useful mammalian host cell lines include Chinesehamster ovary (CHO) and COS cells. More specific examples include monkeykidney CV1 line transformed by SV40 (COS-7, ATCC® CRL 1651); humanembryonic kidney line (293 or 293 cells subcloned for growth insuspension culture, Graham et al., J. Gen Virol., 36:59 (1977)); Chinesehamster ovary cells/-DHFR (CHO, Urlaub and Chasm, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.USA, 77:4216 (1980)); mouse sertoli cells (TM4Mather, Biol. Reprod.,23:243-251 (1980)); human lung cells (W138ATCC® CCL 75); human livercells (Hep G2, HB 8065); and mouse mammary tumor (MMT 060562, ATCC®CCL51). The selection of the appropriate host cell is deemed to bewithin the skill in the art.

3. Selection and Use of a Replicable Vector

The nucleic acid (e.g., cDNA or genomic DNA) encoding PRO may beinserted into a replicable vector for cloning (amplification of the DNA)or for expression. Various vectors are publicly available. The vectormay, for example, be in the form of a plasmid, cosmid, viral particle,or phage. The appropriate nucleic acid sequence may be inserted into thevector by a variety of procedures. In general, DNA is inserted into anappropriate restriction endonuclease site(s) using techniques known inthe art. Vector components generally include, but are not limited to,one or more of a signal sequence, an origin of replication, one or moremarker genes, an enhancer element, a promoter, and a transcriptiontermination sequence. Construction of suitable vectors containing one ormore of these components employs standard ligation techniques which areknown to the skilled artisan.

The PRO may be produced recombinantly not only directly, but also as afusion polypeptide with a heterologous polypeptide, which may be asignal sequence or other polypeptide having a specific cleavage site atthe N-terminus of the mature protein or polypeptide. In general, thesignal sequence may be a component of the vector, or it may be a part ofthe PRO-encoding DNA that is inserted into the vector. The signalsequence may be a prokaryotic signal sequence selected, for example,from the group of the alkaline phosphatase, penicillinase, lpp, orheat-stable enterotoxin II leaders. For yeast secretion the signalsequence may be, e.g., the yeast invertase leader, alpha factor leader(including Saccharomyces and Kluyveromyces α-factor leaders, the latterdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,182), or acid phosphatase leader, theC. albicans glucoamylase leader (EP 362,179 published 4 Apr. 1990), orthe signal described in WO 90/13646 published 15 Nov. 1990. In mammaliancell expression, mammalian signal sequences may be used to directsecretion of the protein, such as signal sequences from secretedpolypeptides of the same or related species, as well as viral secretoryleaders.

Both expression and cloning vectors contain a nucleic acid sequence thatenables the vector to replicate in one or more selected host cells. Suchsequences are well known for a variety of bacteria, yeast, and viruses.The origin of replication from the plasmid pBR322 is suitable for mostGram-negative bacteria, the 2μ plasmid origin is suitable for yeast, andvarious viral origins (SV40, polyoma, adenovirus, VSV or BPV) are usefulfor cloning vectors in mammalian cells.

Expression and cloning vectors will typically contain a selection gene,also termed a selectable marker. Typical selection genes encode proteinsthat (a) confer resistance to antibiotics or other toxins, e.g.,ampicillin, neomycin, methotrexate, or tetracycline, (b) complementauxotrophic deficiencies, or (c) supply critical nutrients not availablefrom complex media, e.g., the gene encoding D-alanine racemase forBacilli.

An example of suitable selectable markers for mammalian cells are thosethat enable the identification of cells competent to take up thePRO-encoding nucleic acid, such as DHFR or thymidine kinase. Anappropriate host cell when wild-type DHFR is employed is the CHO cellline deficient in DHFR activity, prepared and propagated as described byUrlaub et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 77:4216 (1980). A suitableselection gene for use in yeast is the trpl gene present in the yeastplasmid YRp7 [Stinchcomb et al., Nature], 282:39 (1979); Kingsman etal., Gene, 7:141 (1979); Tschemper et al., Gene, 10:157 (1980)). Thetrpl gene provides a selection marker for a mutant strain of yeastlacking the ability to grow in tryptophan, for example, ATCC® No. 44076or PEP4-1[Jones, Genetics, 85:12 (1977)].

Expression and cloning vectors usually contain a promoter operablylinked to the PRO-encoding nucleic acid sequence to direct mRNAsynthesis. Promoters recognized by a variety of potential host cells arewell known. Promoters suitable for use with prokaryotic hosts includethe β-lactamase and lactose promoter systems [Chang et al., Nature,275:615 (1978); Goeddel et al., Nature, 281:544 (1979)], alkalinephosphatase, a tryptophan (trp) promoter system [Goeddel, Nucleic AcidsRes., 8:4057 (1980); EP 36,776], and hybrid promoters such as the tacpromoter [deBoer et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 80:21-25 (1983)].Promoters for use in bacterial systems also will contain aShine-Dalgarno (S.D.) sequence operably linked to the DNA encoding PRO.

Examples of suitable promoting sequences for use with yeast hostsinclude the promoters for 3-phosphoglycerate kinase [Hitzeman et al., J.Biol. Chem., 255:2073 (1980)] or other glycolytic enzymes [Hess et al.,J. Adv. Enzyme Reg., 7:149 (1968); Holland, Biochemistry, 17:4900(1978)], such as enolase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase,hexokinase, pyruvate decarboxylase, phosphofructokinase,glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, 3-phosphoglycerate mutase, pyruvatekinase, triosephosphate isomerase, phosphoglucose isomerase, andglucokinase.

Other yeast promoters, which are inducible promoters having theadditional advantage of transcription controlled by growth conditions,are the promoter regions for alcohol dehydrogenase 2, isocytochrome C,acid phosphatase, degradative enzymes associated with nitrogenmetabolism, metallothionein, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase,and enzymes responsible for maltose and galactose utilization. Suitablevectors and promoters for use in yeast expression are further describedin EP 73,657,

PRO transcription from vectors in mammalian host cells is controlled,for example, by promoters obtained from the genomes of viruses such aspolyoma virus, fowlpox virus (UK 2,211,504 published 5 Jul. 1989),adenovirus (such as Adenovirus 2), bovine papilloma virus, avian sarcomavirus, cytomegalovirus, a retrovirus, hepatitis-B virus and Simian Virus40 (SV40), from heterologous mammalian promoters, e.g., the actinpromoter or an immunoglobulin promoter, and from heat-shock promoters,provided such promoters are compatible with the host cell systems.

Transcription of a DNA encoding the PRO by higher eukaryotes may beincreased by inserting an enhancer sequence into the vector. Enhancersare cis-acting elements of DNA, usually about from 10 to 300 bp, thatact on a promoter to increase its transcription. Many enhancer sequencesare now known from mammalian genes (globin, elastase, albumin,α-fetoprotein, and insulin). Typically, however, one will use anenhancer from a eukaryotic cell virus. Examples include the SV40enhancer on the late side of the replication origin (bp 100-270), thecytomegalovirus early promoter enhancer, the polyoma enhancer on thelate side of the replication origin, and adenovirus enhancers. Theenhancer may be spliced into the vector at a position 5′ or 3′ to thePRO coding sequence, but is preferably located at a site 5′ from thepromoter.

Expression vectors used in eukaryotic host cells (yeast, fungi, insect,plant, animal, human, or nucleated cells from other multicellularorganisms) will also contain sequences necessary for the termination oftranscription and for stabilizing the mRNA. Such sequences are commonlyavailable from the 5′ and, occasionally 3′, untranslated regions ofeukaryotic or viral DNAs or cDNAs. These regions contain nucleotidesegments transcribed as polyadenylated fragments in the untranslatedportion of the mRNA encoding PRO.

Still other methods, vectors, and host cells suitable for adaptation tothe synthesis of PRO in recombinant vertebrate cell culture aredescribed in Gething et al., Nature, 293:620-625 (1981); Mantei et al.,Nature, 281:40-46 (1979); EP 117,060; and EP 117,058.

4. Detecting Gene Amplification/Expression

Gene amplification and/or expression may be measured in a sampledirectly, for example, by conventional Southern blotting, Northernblotting to quantitate the transcription of mRNA [Thomas, Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA, 77:5201-5205 (1980)], dot blotting (DNA analysis), or insitu hybridization, using an appropriately labeled probe, based on thesequences provided herein. Alternatively, antibodies may be employedthat can recognize specific duplexes, including DNA duplexes, RNAduplexes, and DNA-RNA hybrid duplexes or DNA-protein duplexes. Theantibodies in turn may be labeled and the assay may be carried out wherethe duplex is bound to a surface, so that upon the formation of duplexon the surface, the presence of antibody bound to the duplex can bedetected.

Gene expression, alternatively, may be measured by immunologicalmethods, such as immunohistochemical staining of cells or tissuesections and assay of cell culture or body fluids, to quantitatedirectly the expression of gene product. Antibodies useful forimmunohistochemical staining and/or assay of sample fluids may be eithermonoclonal or polyclonal, and may be prepared in any mammal.Conveniently, the antibodies may be prepared against a native sequencePRO polypeptide or against a synthetic peptide based on the DNAsequences provided herein or against exogenous sequence fused to PRO DNAand encoding a specific antibody epitope.

5. Purification of Polypeptide

Forms of PRO may be recovered from culture medium or from host celllysates. If membrane-bound, it can be released from the membrane using asuitable detergent solution (e.g. Triton-X 100) or by enzymaticcleavage. Cells employed in expression of PRO can be disrupted byvarious physical or chemical means, such as freeze-thaw cycling,sonication, mechanical disruption, or cell lysing agents.

It may be desired to purify PRO from recombinant cell proteins orpolypeptides. The following procedures are exemplary of suitablepurification procedures: by fractionation on an ion-exchange column;ethanol precipitation; reverse phase HPLC; chromatography on silica oron a cation-exchange resin such as DEAE; chromatofocusing; SDS-PAGE;ammonium sulfate precipitation; gel filtration using, for example,SEPHADEX® G-75(Amersham Biosciences AB Corp., Uppsala, Sweden); PROTEINA-SEPHAROSE™ (Pharmacia Biotech AB, Uppsala, Sweden) columns to removecontaminants such as IgG; and metal chelating columns to bindepitope-tagged forms of the PRO. Various methods of protein purificationmay be employed and such methods are known in the art and described forexample in Deutscher, Methods in Enzymology, 182 (1990); Scopes, ProteinPurification: Principles and Practice, Springer-Verlag, N.Y. (1982). Thepurification step(s) selected will depend, for example, on the nature ofthe production process used and the particular PRO produced.

E. Uses for PRO

Nucleotide sequences (or their complement) encoding PRO have variousapplications in the art of molecular biology, including uses ashybridization probes, in chromosome and gene mapping and in thegeneration of anti-sense RNA and DNA. PRO nucleic acid will also beuseful for the preparation of PRO polypeptides by the recombinanttechniques described herein.

The full-length native sequence PRO gene, or portions thereof, may beused as hybridization probes for a cDNA library to isolate thefull-length PRO cDNA or to isolate still other cDNAs (for instance,those encoding naturally-occurring variants of PRO or PRO from otherspecies) which have a desired sequence identity to the native PROsequence disclosed herein. Optionally, the length of the probes will beabout 20 to about 50 bases. The hybridization probes may be derived fromat least partially novel regions of the full length native nucleotidesequence wherein those regions may be determined without undueexperimentation or from genomic sequences including promoters, enhancerelements and introns of native sequence PRO. By way of example, ascreening method will comprise isolating the coding region of the PROgene using the known DNA sequence to synthesize a selected probe ofabout 40 bases. Hybridization probes may be labeled by a variety oflabels, including radionucleotides such as ³²P or ³⁵S, or enzymaticlabels such as alkaline phosphatase coupled to the probe viaavidin/biotin coupling systems. Labeled probes having a sequencecomplementary to that of the PRO gene of the present invention can beused to screen libraries of human cDNA, genomic DNA or mRNA to determinewhich members of such libraries the probe hybridizes to. Hybridizationtechniques are described in further detail in the Examples below.

Any EST sequences disclosed in the present application may similarly beemployed as probes, using the methods disclosed herein.

Other useful fragments of the PRO nucleic acids include antisense orsense oligonucleotides comprising a singe-stranded nucleic acid sequence(either RNA or DNA) capable of binding to target PRO mRNA (sense) or PRODNA (antisense) sequences. Antisense or sense oligonucleotides,according to the present invention, comprise a fragment of the codingregion of PRO DNA. Such a fragment generally comprises at least about 14nucleotides, preferably from about 14 to 30 nucleotides. The ability toderive an antisense or a sense oligonucleotide, based upon a cDNAsequence encoding a given protein is described in, for example, Steinand Cohen (Cancer Res. 48:2659, 1988) and van der Krol et al.(BioTechniques 6:958, 1988).

Binding of antisense or sense oligonucleotides to target nucleic acidsequences results in the formation of duplexes that block transcriptionor translation of the target sequence by one of several means, includingenhanced degradation of the duplexes, premature termination oftranscription or translation, or by other means. The antisenseoligonucleotides thus may be used to block expression of PRO proteins.Antisense or sense oligonucleotides further comprise oligonucleotideshaving modified sugar-phosphodiester backbones (or other sugar linkages,such as those described in WO 91/06629) and wherein such sugar linkagesare resistant to endogenous nucleases. Such oligonucleotides withresistant sugar linkages are stable in vivo (i.e., capable of resistingenzymatic degradation) but retain sequence specificity to be able tobind to target nucleotide sequences.

Other examples of sense or antisense oligonucleotides include thoseoligonucleotides which are covalently linked to organic moieties, suchas those described in WO 90/10048, and other moieties that increasesaffinity of the oligonucleotide for a target nucleic acid sequence, suchas poly-(L-lysine). Further still, intercalating agents, such asellipticine, and alkylating agents or metal complexes may be attached tosense or antisense oligonucleotides to modify binding specificities ofthe antisense or sense oligonucleotide for the target nucleotidesequence.

Antisense or sense oligonucleotides may be introduced into a cellcontaining the target nucleic acid sequence by any gene transfer method,including, for example, CaPO₄-mediated DNA transfection,electroporation, or by using gene transfer vectors such as Epstein-Barrvirus. In a preferred procedure, an antisense or sense oligonucleotideis inserted into a suitable retroviral vector. A cell containing thetarget nucleic acid sequence is contacted with the recombinantretroviral vector, either in vivo or ex vivo. Suitable retroviralvectors include, but are not limited to, those derived from the murineretrovirus M-MuLV, N2 (a retrovirus derived from M-MuLV), or the doublecopy vectors designated DCT5A, DCT5B and DCT5C (see WO 90/13641).

Sense or antisense oligonucleotides also may be introduced into a cellcontaining the target nucleotide sequence by formation of a conjugatewith a ligand binding molecule, as described in WO 91/04753. Suitableligand binding molecules include, but are not limited to, cell surfacereceptors, growth factors, other cytokines, or other ligands that bindto cell surface receptors. Preferably, conjugation of the ligand bindingmolecule does not substantially interfere with the ability of the ligandbinding molecule to bind to its corresponding molecule or receptor, orblock entry of the sense or antisense oligonucleotide or its conjugatedversion into the cell.

Alternatively, a sense or an antisense oligonucleotide may be introducedinto a cell containing the target nucleic acid sequence by formation ofan oligonucleotide-lipid complex, as described in WO 90/10448. The senseor antisense oligonucleotide-lipid complex is preferably dissociatedwithin the cell by an endogenous lipase.

Antisense or sense RNA or DNA molecules are generally at least about 5bases in length, about 10 bases in length, about 15 bases in length,about 20 bases in length, about 25 bases in length, about 30 bases inlength, about 35 bases in length, about 40 bases in length, about 45bases in length, about 50 bases in length, about 55 bases in length,about 60 bases in length, about 65 bases in length, about 70 bases inlength, about 75 bases in length, about 80 bases in length, about 85bases in length, about 90 bases in length, about 95 bases in length,about 100 bases in length, or more.

The probes may also be employed in PCR techniques to generate a pool ofsequences for identification of closely related PRO coding sequences.

Nucleotide sequences encoding a PRO can also be used to constructhybridization probes for mapping the gene which encodes that PRO and forthe genetic analysis of individuals with genetic disorders. Thenucleotide sequences provided herein may be mapped to a chromosome andspecific regions of a chromosome using known techniques, such as in situhybridization, linkage analysis against known chromosomal markers, andhybridization screening with libraries.

When the coding sequences for PRO encode a protein which binds toanother protein (example, where the PRO is a receptor), the PRO can beused in assays to identify the other proteins or molecules involved inthe binding interaction. By such methods, inhibitors of thereceptor/ligand binding interaction can be identified. Proteins involvedin such binding interactions can also be used to screen for peptide orsmall molecule inhibitors or agonists of the binding interaction. Also,the receptor PRO can be used to isolate correlative ligand(s). Screeningassays can be designed to find lead compounds that mimic the biologicalactivity of a native PRO or a receptor for PRO. Such screening assayswill include assays amenable to high-throughput screening of chemicallibraries, making them particularly suitable for identifying smallmolecule drug candidates. Small molecules contemplated include syntheticorganic or inorganic compounds. The assays can be performed in a varietyof formats, including protein-protein binding assays, biochemicalscreening assays, immunoassays and cell based assays, which are wellcharacterized in the art.

Nucleic acids which encode PRO or its modified forms can also be used togenerate either transgenic animals or “knock out” animals which, inturn, are useful in the development and screening of therapeuticallyuseful reagents. A transgenic animal (e.g., a mouse or rat) is an animalhaving cells that contain a transgene, which transgene was introducedinto the animal or an ancestor of the animal at a prenatal, e.g., anembryonic stage. A transgene is a DNA which is integrated into thegenome of a cell from which a transgenic animal develops. In oneembodiment, cDNA encoding PRO can be used to clone genomic DNA encodingPRO in accordance with established techniques and the genomic sequencesused to generate transgenic animals that contain cells which express DNAencoding PRO. Methods for generating transgenic animals, particularlyanimals such as mice or rats, have become conventional in the art andare described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,736,866 and 4,870,009.Typically, particular cells would be targeted for PRO transgeneincorporation with tissue-specific enhancers. Transgenic animals thatinclude a copy of a transgene encoding PRO introduced into the germ lineof the animal at an embryonic stage can be used to examine the effect ofincreased expression of DNA encoding PRO. Such animals can be used astester animals for reagents thought to confer protection from, forexample, pathological conditions associated with its overexpression. Inaccordance with this facet of the invention, an animal is treated withthe reagent and a reduced incidence of the pathological condition,compared to untreated animals bearing the transgene, would indicate apotential therapeutic intervention for the pathological condition.

Alternatively, non-human homologues of PRO can be used to construct aPRO “knock out” animal which has a defective or altered gene encodingPRO as a result of homologous recombination between the endogenous geneencoding PRO and altered genomic DNA encoding PRO introduced into anembryonic stem cell of the animal. For example, cDNA encoding PRO can beused to clone genomic DNA encoding PRO in accordance with establishedtechniques. A portion of the genomic DNA encoding PRO can be deleted orreplaced with another gene, such as a gene encoding a selectable markerwhich can be used to monitor integration. Typically, several kilobasesof unaltered flanking DNA (both at the 5′ and 3′ ends) are included inthe vector [see e.g., Thomas and Capecchi, Cell, 51:503 (1987) for adescription of homologous recombination vectors]. The vector isintroduced into an embryonic stem cell line (e.g., by electroporation)and cells in which the introduced DNA has homologously recombined withthe endogenous DNA are selected [see e.g., Li et al., Cell, 69:915(1992)]. The selected cells are then injected into a blastocyst of ananimal (e.g., a mouse or rat) to form aggregation chimeras [see e.g.,Bradley, in Teratocarcinomas and Embryonic Stem Cells: A PracticalApproach, E. J. Robertson, ed. (IRL, Oxford, 1987), pp. 113-152]. Achimeric embryo can then be implanted into a suitable pseudopregnantfemale foster animal and the embryo brought to term to create a “knockout” animal. Progeny harboring the homologously recombined DNA in theirgerm cells can be identified by standard techniques and used to breedanimals in which all cells of the animal contain the homologouslyrecombined DNA. Knockout animals can be characterized for instance, fortheir ability to defend against certain pathological conditions and fortheir development of pathological conditions due to absence of the PROpolypeptide.

Nucleic acid encoding the PRO polypeptides may also be used in genetherapy. In gene therapy applications, genes are introduced into cellsin order to achieve in vivo synthesis of a therapeutically effectivegenetic product, for example for replacement of a defective gene. “Genetherapy” includes both conventional gene therapy where a lasting effectis achieved by a single treatment, and the administration of genetherapeutic agents, which involves the one time or repeatedadministration of a therapeutically effective DNA or mRNA. AntisenseRNAs and DNAs can be used as therapeutic agents for blocking theexpression of certain genes in vivo. It has already been shown thatshort antisense oligonucleotides can be imported into cells where theyact as inhibitors, despite their low intracellular concentrations causedby their restricted uptake by the cell membrane. (Zamecnik et al., Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:4143-4146 [1986]). The oligonucleotides can bemodified to enhance their uptake, e.g. by substituting their negativelycharged phosphodiester groups by uncharged groups.

There are a variety of techniques available for introducing nucleicacids into viable cells. The techniques vary depending upon whether thenucleic acid is transferred into cultured cells in vitro, or in vivo inthe cells of the intended host. Techniques suitable for the transfer ofnucleic acid into mammalian cells in vitro include the use of liposomes,electroporation, microinjection, cell fusion, DEAE-dextran, the calciumphosphate precipitation method, etc. The currently preferred in vivogene transfer techniques include transfection with viral (typicallyretroviral) vectors and viral coat protein-liposome mediatedtransfection (Dzau et al., Trends in Biotechnology 11, 205-210 [1993]).In some situations it is desirable to provide the nucleic acid sourcewith an agent that targets the target cells, such as an antibodyspecific for a cell surface membrane protein or the target cell, aligand for a receptor on the target cell, etc. Where liposomes areemployed, proteins which bind to a cell surface membrane proteinassociated with endocytosis may be used for targeting and/or tofacilitate uptake, e.g. capsid proteins or fragments thereof tropic fora particular cell type, antibodies for proteins which undergointernalization in cycling, proteins that target intracellularlocalization and enhance intracellular half-life. The technique ofreceptor-mediated endocytosis is described, for example, by Wu et al.,J. Biol. Chem. 262, 4429-4432 (1987); and Wagner et al., Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA 87, 3410-3414 (1990). For review of gene marking and genetherapy protocols see Anderson et al., Science 256, 808-813 (1992).

The PRO polypeptides described herein may also be employed as molecularweight markers for protein electrophoresis purposes and the isolatednucleic acid sequences may be used for recombinantly expressing thosemarkers.

The nucleic acid molecules encoding the PRO polypeptides or fragmentsthereof described herein are useful for chromosome identification. Inthis regard, there exists an ongoing need to identify new chromosomemarkers, since relatively few chromosome marking reagents, based uponactual sequence data are presently available. Each PRO nucleic acidmolecule of the present invention can be used as a chromosome marker.

The PRO polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules of the present inventionmay also be used diagnostically for tissue typing, wherein the PROpolypeptides of the present invention may be differentially expressed inone tissue as compared to another, preferably in a diseased tissue ascompared to a normal tissue of the same tissue type. PRO nucleic acidmolecules will find use for generating probes for PCR, Northernanalysis, Southern analysis and Western analysis.

The PRO polypeptides described herein may also be employed astherapeutic agents. The PRO polypeptides of the present invention can beformulated according to known methods to prepare pharmaceutically usefulcompositions, whereby the PRO product hereof is combined in admixturewith a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier vehicle. Therapeuticformulations are prepared for storage by mixing the active ingredienthaving the desired degree of purity with optional physiologicallyacceptable carriers, excipients or stabilizers (Remington'sPharmaceutical Sciences 16th edition, Osol, A. Ed. (1980)), in the formof lyophilized formulations or aqueous solutions. Acceptable carriers,excipients or stabilizers are nontoxic to recipients at the dosages andconcentrations employed, and include buffers such as phosphate, citrateand other organic acids; antioxidants including ascorbic acid; lowmolecular weight (less than about 10 residues) polypeptides; proteins,such as serum albumin, gelatin or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymerssuch as polyvinylpyrrolidone, amino acids such as glycine, glutamine,asparagine, arginine or lysine; monosaccharides, disaccharides and othercarbohydrates including glucose, mannose, or dextrins; chelating agentssuch as EDTA; sugar alcohols such as mannitol or sorbitol; salt-formingcounterions such as sodium; and/or nonionic surfactants such as TWEEN®,PLURONICS® or PEG.

The formulations to be used for in vivo administration must be sterile.This is readily accomplished by filtration through sterile filtrationmembranes, prior to or following lyophilization and reconstitution.

Therapeutic compositions herein generally are placed into a containerhaving a sterile access port, for example, an intravenous solution bagor vial having a stopper pierceable by a hypodermic injection needle.

The route of administration is in accord with known methods, e.g.injection or infusion by intravenous, intraperitoneal, intracerebral,intramuscular, intraocular, intraarterial or intralesional routes,topical administration, or by sustained release systems.

Dosages and desired drug concentrations of pharmaceutical compositionsof the present invention may vary depending on the particular useenvisioned. The determination of the appropriate dosage or route ofadministration is well within the skill of an ordinary physician. Animalexperiments provide reliable guidance for the determination of effectivedoses for human therapy. Interspecies scaling of effective doses can beperformed following the principles laid down by Mordenti, J. andChappell, W. “The use of interspecies scaling in toxicokinetics” InToxicokinetics and New Drug Development, Yacobi et al., Eds., PergamonPress, New York 1989, pp. 42-96.

When in vivo administration of a PRO polypeptide or agonist orantagonist thereof is employed, normal dosage amounts may vary fromabout 10 ng/kg to up to 100 mg/kg of mammal body weight or more per day,preferably about 1 μg/kg/day to 10 mg/kg/day, depending upon the routeof administration. Guidance as to particular dosages and methods ofdelivery is provided in the literature; see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.4,657,760; 5,206,344; or 5,225,212. It is anticipated that differentformulations will be effective for different treatment compounds anddifferent disorders, that administration targeting one organ or tissue,for example, may necessitate delivery in a manner different from that toanother organ or tissue.

Where sustained-release administration of a PRO polypeptide is desiredin a formulation with release characteristics suitable for the treatmentof any disease or disorder requiring administration of the PROpolypeptide, microencapsulation of the PRO polypeptide is contemplated.Microencapsulation of recombinant proteins for sustained release hasbeen successfully performed with human growth hormone (rhGH),interferon-(rhIFN-), interleukin-2, and MN rgp120. Johnson et al., Nat.Med., 2:795-799 (1996); Yasuda, Biomed. Ther., 27:1221-1223 (1993); Horaet al., Bio/Technology, 8:755-758 (1990); Cleland, “Design andProduction of Single Immunization Vaccines Using PolylactidePolyglycolide Microsphere Systems,” in Vaccine Design: The Subunit andAdjuvant Approach, Powell and Newman, eds, (Plenum Press: New York,1995), pp. 439-462; WO 97/03692, WO 96/40072, WO 96/07399; and U.S. Pat.No. 5,654,010.

The sustained-release formulations of these proteins were developedusing poly-lacetic-coglycolic acid (PLGA) polymer due to itsbiocompatibility and wide range of biodegradable properties. Thedegradation products of PLGA, lacetic and glycolic acids, can be clearedquickly within the human body. Moreover, the degradability of thispolymer can be adjusted from months to years depending on its molecularweight and composition. Lewis, “Controlled release of bioactive agentsfrom lactide/glycolide polymer,” in: M. Chasin and R. Langer (Eds.),Biodegradable Polymers as Drug Delivery Systems (Marcel Dekker: NewYork, 1990), pp. 1-41.

This invention encompasses methods of screening compounds to identifythose that mimic the PRO polypeptide (agonists) or prevent the effect ofthe PRO polypeptide (antagonists). Screening assays for antagonist drugcandidates are designed to identify compounds that bind or complex withthe PRO polypeptides encoded by the genes identified herein, orotherwise interfere with the interaction of the encoded polypeptideswith other cellular proteins. Such screening assays will include assaysamenable to high-throughput screening of chemical libraries, making themparticularly suitable for identifying small molecule drug candidates.

The assays can be performed in a variety of formats, includingprotein-protein binding assays, biochemical screening assays,immunoassays, and cell-based assays, which are well characterized in theart.

All assays for antagonists are common in that they call for contactingthe drug candidate with a PRO polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acididentified herein under conditions and for a time sufficient to allowthese two components to interact.

In binding assays, the interaction is binding and the complex formed canbe isolated or detected in the reaction mixture. In a particularembodiment, the PRO polypeptide encoded by the gene identified herein orthe drug candidate is immobilized on a solid phase, e.g., on amicrotiter plate, by covalent or non-covalent attachments. Non-covalentattachment generally is accomplished by coating the solid surface with asolution of the PRO polypeptide and drying. Alternatively, animmobilized antibody, e.g., a monoclonal antibody, specific for the PROpolypeptide to be immobilized can be used to anchor it to a solidsurface. The assay is performed by adding the non-immobilized component,which may be labeled by a detectable label, to the immobilizedcomponent, e.g., the coated surface containing the anchored component.When the reaction is complete, the non-reacted components are removed,e.g., by washing, and complexes anchored on the solid surface aredetected. When the originally non-immobilized component carries adetectable label, the detection of label immobilized on the surfaceindicates that complexing occurred. Where the originally non-immobilizedcomponent does not carry a label, complexing can be detected, forexample, by using a labeled antibody specifically binding theimmobilized complex.

If the candidate compound interacts with but does not bind to aparticular PRO polypeptide encoded by a gene identified herein, itsinteraction with that polypeptide can be assayed by methods well knownfor detecting protein-protein interactions. Such assays includetraditional approaches, such as, e.g., cross-linking,co-immunoprecipitation, and co-purification through gradients orchromatographic columns. In addition, protein-protein interactions canbe monitored by using a yeast-based genetic system described by Fieldsand co-workers (Fields and Song, Nature (London), 340:245-246 (1989);Chien et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88:9578-9582 (1991)) asdisclosed by Chevray and Nathans, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89:5789-5793 (1991). Many transcriptional activators, such as yeast GAL4,consist of two physically discrete modular domains, one acting as theDNA-binding domain, the other one functioning as thetranscription-activation domain. The yeast expression system describedin the foregoing publications (generally referred to as the “two-hybridsystem”) takes advantage of this property, and employs two hybridproteins, one in which the target protein is fused to the DNA-bindingdomain of GAL4, and another, in which candidate activating proteins arefused to the activation domain. The expression of a GAL1-lacZ reportergene under control of a GAL4-activated promoter depends onreconstitution of GAL4 activity via protein-protein interaction.Colonies containing interacting polypeptides are detected with achromogenic substrate for β-galactosidase. A complete kit (MATCHMAKER™)for identifying protein-protein interactions between two specificproteins using the two-hybrid technique is commercially available fromClontech, Palo Alto, Calif. This system can also be extended to mapprotein domains involved in specific protein interactions as well as topinpoint amino acid residues that are crucial for these interactions.

Compounds that interfere with the interaction of a gene encoding a PROpolypeptide identified herein and other intra- or extracellularcomponents can be tested as follows: usually a reaction mixture isprepared containing the product of the gene and the intra- orextracellular component under conditions and for a time allowing for theinteraction and binding of the two products. To test the ability of acandidate compound to inhibit binding, the reaction is run in theabsence and in the presence of the test compound. In addition, a placebomay be added to a third reaction mixture, to serve as positive control.The binding (complex formation) between the test compound and the intra-or extracellular component present in the mixture is monitored asdescribed hereinabove. The formation of a complex in the controlreaction(s) but not in the reaction mixture containing the test compoundindicates that the test compound interferes with the interaction of thetest compound and its reaction partner.

To assay for antagonists, the PRO polypeptide may be added to a cellalong with the compound to be screened for a particular activity and theability of the compound to inhibit the activity of interest in thepresence of the PRO polypeptide indicates that the compound is anantagonist to the PRO polypeptide. Alternatively, antagonists may bedetected by combining the PRO polypeptide and a potential antagonistwith membrane-bound PRO polypeptide receptors or recombinant receptorsunder appropriate conditions for a competitive inhibition assay. The PROpolypeptide can be labeled, such as by radioactivity, such that thenumber of PRO polypeptide molecules bound to the receptor can be used todetermine the effectiveness of the potential antagonist. The geneencoding the receptor can be identified by numerous methods known tothose of skill in the art, for example, ligand panning and FACS sorting.Coligan et al., Current Protocols in Immun., 1(2): Chapter 5 (1991).Preferably, expression cloning is employed wherein polyadenylated RNA isprepared from a cell responsive to the PRO polypeptide and a cDNAlibrary created from this RNA is divided into pools and used totransfect COS cells or other cells that are not responsive to the PROpolypeptide. Transfected cells that are grown on glass slides areexposed to labeled PRO polypeptide. The PRO polypeptide can be labeledby a variety of means including iodination or inclusion of a recognitionsite for a site-specific protein kinase. Following fixation andincubation, the slides are subjected to autoradiographic analysis.Positive pools are identified and sub-pools are prepared andre-transfected using an interactive sub-pooling and re-screeningprocess, eventually yielding a single clone that encodes the putativereceptor.

As an alternative approach for receptor identification, labeled PROpolypeptide can be photoaffinity-linked with cell membrane or extractpreparations that express the receptor molecule. Cross-linked materialis resolved by PAGE and exposed to X-ray film. The labeled complexcontaining the receptor can be excised, resolved into peptide fragments,and subjected to protein micro-sequencing. The amino acid sequenceobtained from micro-sequencing would be used to design a set ofdegenerate oligonucleotide probes to screen a cDNA library to identifythe gene encoding the putative receptor.

In another assay for antagonists, mammalian cells or a membranepreparation expressing the receptor would be incubated with labeled PROpolypeptide in the presence of the candidate compound. The ability ofthe compound to enhance or block this interaction could then bemeasured.

More specific examples of potential antagonists include anoligonucleotide that binds to the fusions of immunoglobulin with PROpolypeptide, and, in particular, antibodies including, withoutlimitation, poly- and monoclonal antibodies and antibody fragments,single-chain antibodies, anti-idiotypic antibodies, and chimeric orhumanized versions of such antibodies or fragments, as well as humanantibodies and antibody fragments. Alternatively, a potential antagonistmay be a closely related protein, for example, a mutated form of the PROpolypeptide that recognizes the receptor but imparts no effect, therebycompetitively inhibiting the action of the PRO polypeptide.

Another potential PRO polypeptide antagonist is an antisense RNA or DNAconstruct prepared using antisense technology, where, e.g., an antisenseRNA or DNA molecule acts to block directly the translation of mRNA byhybridizing to targeted mRNA and preventing protein translation.Antisense technology can be used to control gene expression throughtriple-helix formation or antisense DNA or RNA, both of which methodsare based on binding of a polynucleotide to DNA or RNA. For example, the5′ coding portion of the polynucleotide sequence, which encodes themature PRO polypeptides herein, is used to design an antisense RNAoligonucleotide of from about 10 to 40 base pairs in length. A DNAoligonucleotide is designed to be complementary to a region of the geneinvolved in transcription (triple helix—see Lee et al., Nucl. AcidsRes., 6:3073 (1979); Cooney et al., Science, 241: 456 (1988); Dervan etal., Science, 251:1360 (1991)), thereby preventing transcription and theproduction of the PRO polypeptide. The antisense RNA oligonucleotidehybridizes to the mRNA in vivo and blocks translation of the mRNAmolecule into the PRO polypeptide (antisense—Okano, Neurochem., 56:560(1991); Oligodeoxynucleotides as Antisense Inhibitors of Gene Expression(CRC Press: Boca Raton, Fla., 1988). The oligonucleotides describedabove can also be delivered to cells such that the antisense RNA or DNAmay be expressed in vivo to inhibit production of the PRO polypeptide.When antisense DNA is used, oligodeoxyribonucleotides derived from thetranslation-initiation site, e.g., between about −10 and +10 positionsof the target gene nucleotide sequence, are preferred.

Potential antagonists include small molecules that bind to the activesite, the receptor binding site, or growth factor or other relevantbinding site of the PRO polypeptide, thereby blocking the normalbiological activity of the PRO polypeptide. Examples of small moleculesinclude, but are not limited to, small peptides or peptide-likemolecules, preferably soluble peptides, and synthetic non-peptidylorganic or inorganic compounds.

Ribozymes are enzymatic RNA molecules capable of catalyzing the specificcleavage of RNA. Ribozymes act by sequence-specific hybridization to thecomplementary target RNA, followed by endonucleolytic cleavage. Specificribozyme cleavage sites within a potential RNA target can be identifiedby known techniques. For further details see, e.g., Rossi, CurrentBiology, 4:469-471 (1994), and PCT publication No. WO 97/33551(published Sep. 18, 1997).

Nucleic acid molecules in triple-helix formation used to inhibittranscription should be single-stranded and composed ofdeoxynucleotides. The base composition of these oligonucleotides isdesigned such that it promotes triple-helix formation via Hoogsteenbase-pairing rules, which generally require sizeable stretches ofpurines or pyrimidines on one strand of a duplex. For further detailssee, e.g., PCT publication No. WO 97/33551, supra.

These small molecules can be identified by any one or more of thescreening assays discussed hereinabove and/or by any other screeningtechniques well known for those skilled in the art.

Diagnostic and therapeutic uses of the herein disclosed molecules rihayalso be based upon the positive functional assay hits disclosed anddescribed below.

F. Anti-PRO Antibodies

The present invention further provides anti-PRO antibodies. Exemplaryantibodies include polyclonal, monoclonal, humanized, bispecific, andheteroconjugate antibodies.

1. Polyclonal Antibodies

The anti-PRO antibodies may comprise polyclonal antibodies. Methods ofpreparing polyclonal antibodies are known to the skilled artisan.Polyclonal antibodies can be raised in a mammal, for example, by one ormore injections of an immunizing agent and, if desired, an adjuvant.Typically, the immunizing agent and/or adjuvant will be injected in themammal by multiple subcutaneous or intraperitoneal injections. Theimmunizing agent may include the PRO polypeptide or a fusion proteinthereof. It may be useful to conjugate the immunizing agent to a proteinknown to be immunogenic in the mammal being immunized. Examples of suchimmunogenic proteins include but are not limited to keyhole limpethemocyanin, serum albumin, bovine thyroglobulin, and soybean trypsininhibitor. Examples of adjuvants which may be employed include Freund'scomplete adjuvant and MPL-TDM adjuvant (monophosphoryl Lipid A,synthetic trehalose dicorynomycolate). The immunization protocol may beselected by one skilled in the art without undue experimentation.

2. Monoclonal Antibodies

The anti-PRO antibodies may, alternatively, be monoclonal antibodies.Monoclonal antibodies may be prepared using hybridoma methods, such asthose described by Kohler and Milstein, Nature, 256:495 (1975). In ahybridoma method, a mouse, hamster, or other appropriate host animal, istypically immunized with an immunizing agent to elicit lymphocytes thatproduce or are capable of producing antibodies that will specificallybind to the immunizing agent. Alternatively, the lymphocytes may beimmunized in vitro.

The immunizing agent will typically include the PRO polypeptide or afusion protein thereof. Generally, either peripheral blood lymphocytes(“PBLs”) are used if cells of human origin are desired, or spleen cellsor lymph node cells are used if non-human mammalian sources are desired.The lymphocytes are then fused with an immortalized cell line using asuitable fusing agent, such as polyethylene glycol, to form a hybridomacell [Goding, Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Practice, AcademicPress, (1986) pp. 59-103]. Immortalized cell lines are usuallytransformed mammalian cells, particularly myeloma cells of rodent,bovine and human origin. Usually, rat or mouse myeloma cell lines areemployed. The hybridoma cells may be cultured in a suitable culturemedium that preferably contains one or more substances that inhibit thegrowth or survival of the unfused, immortalized cells. For example, ifthe parental cells lack the enzyme hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT or HPRT), the culture medium for the hybridomastypically will include hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and thymidine (“HATmedium”), which substances prevent the growth of HGPRT-deficient cells.

Preferred immortalized cell lines are those that fuse efficiently,support stable high level expression of antibody by the selectedantibody-producing cells, and are sensitive to a medium such as HATmedium. More preferred immortalized cell lines are murine myeloma lines,which can be obtained, for instance, from the Salk Institute CellDistribution Center, San Diego, Calif. and the American Type CultureCollection, Manassas, Va. Human myeloma and mouse-human heteromyelomacell lines also have been described for the production of humanmonoclonal antibodies [Kozbor, J. Immunol., 133:3001 (1984); Brodeur etal., Monoclonal Antibody Production Techniques and Applications, MarcelDekker, Inc., New York, (1987) pp. 51-63].

The culture medium in which the hybridoma cells are cultured can then beassayed for the presence of monoclonal antibodies directed against PRO.Preferably, the binding specificity of monoclonal antibodies produced bythe hybridoma cells is determined by immunoprecipitation or by an invitro binding assay, such as radioimmunoassay (RIA) or enzyme-linkedimmunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). Such techniques and assays are known inthe art. The binding affinity of the monoclonal antibody can, forexample, be determined by the Scatchard analysis of Munson and Pollard,Anal. Biochem., 107:220 (1980).

After the desired hybridoma cells are identified, the clones may besubcloned by limiting dilution procedures and grown by standard methods[Goding, supra]. Suitable culture media for this purpose include, forexample, Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium and RPMI-1640 medium.Alternatively, the hybridoma cells may be grown in vivo as ascites in amammal.

The monoclonal antibodies secreted by the subclones may be isolated orpurified from the culture medium or ascites fluid by conventionalimmunoglobulin purification procedures such as, for example, proteinA-Sepharose, hydroxylapatite chromatography, gel electrophoresis,dialysis, or affinity chromatography.

The monoclonal antibodies may also be made by recombinant DNA methods,such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567. DNA encoding themonoclonal antibodies of the invention can be readily isolated andsequenced using conventional procedures (e.g., by using oligonucleotideprobes that are capable of binding specifically to genes encoding theheavy and light chains of murine antibodies). The hybridoma cells of theinvention serve as a preferred source of such DNA. Once isolated, theDNA may be placed into expression vectors, which are then transfectedinto host cells such as simian COS cells, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)cells, or myeloma cells that do not otherwise produce immunoglobulinprotein, to obtain the synthesis of monoclonal antibodies in therecombinant host cells. The DNA also may be modified, for example, bysubstituting the coding sequence for human heavy and light chainconstant domains in place of the homologous murine sequences [U.S. Pat.No. 4,816,567; Morrison et al., supra] or by covalently joining to theimmunoglobulin coding sequence all or part of the coding sequence for anon-immunoglobulin polypeptide. Such a non-immunoglobulin polypeptidecan be substituted for the constant domains of an antibody of theinvention, or can be substituted for the variable domains of oneantigen-combining site of an antibody of the invention to create achimeric bivalent antibody.

The antibodies may be monovalent antibodies. Methods for preparingmonovalent antibodies are well known in the art. For example, one methodinvolves recombinant expression of immunoglobulin light chain andmodified heavy chain. The heavy chain is truncated generally at anypoint in the Fc region so as to prevent heavy chain crosslinking.Alternatively, the relevant cysteine residues are substituted withanother amino acid residue or are deleted so as to prevent crosslinking.

In vitro methods are also suitable for preparing monovalent antibodies.Digestion of antibodies to produce fragments thereof, particularly, Fabfragments, can be accomplished using routine techniques known in theart.

3. Human and Humanized Antibodies

The anti-PRO antibodies of the invention may further comprise humanizedantibodies or human antibodies. Humanized forms of non-human (e.g.,murine) antibodies are chimeric immunoglobulins, immunoglobulin chainsor fragments thereof (such as Fv, Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)₂ or otherantigen-binding subsequences of antibodies) which contain minimalsequence derived from non-human immunoglobulin. Humanized antibodiesinclude human immunoglobulins (recipient antibody) in which residuesfrom a complementary determining region (CDR) of the recipient arereplaced by residues from a CDR of a non-human species (donor antibody)such as mouse, rat or rabbit having the desired specificity, affinityand capacity. In some instances, Fv framework residues of the humanimmunoglobulin are replaced by corresponding non-human residues.Humanized antibodies may also comprise residues which are found neitherin the recipient antibody nor in the imported CDR or frameworksequences. In general, the humanized antibody will comprisesubstantially all of at least one, and typically two, variable domains,in which all or substantially all of the CDR regions correspond to thoseof a non-human immunoglobulin and all or substantially all of the FRregions are those of a human immunoglobulin consensus sequence. Thehumanized antibody optimally also will comprise at least a portion of animmunoglobulin constant region (Fc), typically that of a humanimmunoglobulin [Jones et al., Nature, 321:522-525 (1986); Riechmann etal., Nature, 332:323-329 (1988); and Presta, Curr. Op. Struct. Biol.,2:593-596 (1992)].

Methods for humanizing non-human antibodies are well known in the art.Generally, a humanized antibody has one or more amino acid residuesintroduced into it from a source which is non-human. These non-humanamino acid residues are often referred to as “import” residues, whichare typically taken from an “import” variable domain. Humanization canbe essentially performed following the method of Winter and co-workers[Jones et al., Nature, 321:522-525 (1986); Riechmann et al., Nature,332:323-327 (1988); Verhoeyen et al., Science, 239:1534-1536 (1988)], bysubstituting rodent CDRs or CDR sequences for the correspondingsequences of a human antibody. Accordingly, such “humanized” antibodiesare chimeric antibodies (U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567), wherein substantiallyless than an intact human variable domain has been substituted by thecorresponding sequence from a non-human species. In practice, humanizedantibodies are typically human antibodies in which some CDR residues andpossibly some FR residues are substituted by residues from analogoussites in rodent antibodies.

Human antibodies can also be produced using various techniques known inthe art, including phage display libraries [Hoogenboom and Winter, J.Mol. Biol., 227:381 (1991); Marks et al., J. Mol. Biol., 222:581(1991)]. The techniques of Cole et al. and Boerner et al. are alsoavailable for the preparation of human monoclonal antibodies (Cole etal., Monoclonal Antibodies and Cancer Therapy, Alan R. Liss, p. 77(1985) and Boerner et al., J. Immunol., 147(1):86-95 (1991)]. Similarly,human antibodies can be made by introducing of human immunoglobulin lociinto transgenic animals, e.g., mice in which the endogenousimmunoglobulin genes have been partially or completely inactivated. Uponchallenge, human antibody production is observed, which closelyresembles that seen in humans in all respects, including generearrangement, assembly, and antibody repertoire. This approach isdescribed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,545,807; 5,545,806;5,569,825; 5,625,126; 5,633,425; 5,661,016, and in the followingscientific publications: Marks et al., Bio/Technology 10, 779-783(1992); Lonberg et al., Nature 368 856-859 (1994); Morrison, Nature 368,812-13 (1994); Fishwild et al., Nature Biotechnology 14, 845-51 (1996);Neuberger, Nature Biotechnology 14, 826 (1996); Lonberg and Huszar,Intern. Rev. Immunol. 13 65-93 (1995).

The antibodies may also be affinity matured using known selection and/ormutagenesis methods as described above. Preferred affinity maturedantibodies have an affinity which is five times, more preferably 10times, even more preferably 20 or 30 times greater than the startingantibody (generally murine, humanized or human) from which the maturedantibody is prepared.

4. Bispecific Antibodies

Bispecific antibodies are monoclonal, preferably human or humanized,antibodies that have binding specificities for at least two differentantigens. In the present case, one of the binding specificities is forthe PRO, the other one is for any other antigen, and preferably for acell-surface protein or receptor or receptor subunit.

Methods for making bispecific antibodies are known in the art.Traditionally, the recombinant production of bispecific antibodies isbased on the co-expression of two immunoglobulin heavy-chain/light-chainpairs, where the two heavy chains have different specificities [Milsteinand Cuello, Nature, 305:537-539 (1983)]. Because of the randomassortment of immunoglobulin heavy and light chains, these hybridomas(quadromas) produce a potential mixture of ten different antibodymolecules, of which only one has the correct bispecific structure. Thepurification of the correct molecule is usually accomplished by affinitychromatography steps. Similar procedures are disclosed in WO 93/08829,published 13 May 1993, and in Traunecker et al., EMBO J., 10:3655-3659(1991).

Antibody variable domains with the desired binding specificities(antibody-antigen combining sites) can be fused to immunoglobulinconstant domain sequences. The fusion preferably is with animmunoglobulin heavy-chain constant domain, comprising at least part ofthe hinge, CH2, and CH3 regions. It is preferred to have the firstheavy-chain constant region (CH1) containing the site necessary forlight-chain binding present in at least one of the fusions. DNAsencoding the immunoglobulin heavy-chain fusions and, if desired, theimmunoglobulin light chain, are inserted into separate expressionvectors, and are co-transfected into a suitable host organism. Forfurther details of generating bispecific antibodies see, for example,Suresh et al., Methods in Enzymology, 121:210 (1986).

According to another approach described in WO 96/27011, the interfacebetween a pair of antibody molecules can be engineered to maximize thepercentage of heterodimers which are recovered from recombinant cellculture. The preferred interface comprises at least a part of the CH3region of an antibody constant domain. In this method, one or more smallamino acid side chains from the interface of the first antibody moleculeare replaced with larger side chains (e.g. tyrosine or tryptophan).Compensatory “cavities” of identical or similar size to the large sidechain(s) are created on the interface of the second antibody molecule byreplacing large amino acid side chains with smaller ones (e.g. alanineor threonine). This provides a mechanism for increasing the yield of theheterodimer over other unwanted end-products such as homodimers.

Bispecific antibodies can be prepared as full length antibodies orantibody fragments (e.g. F(ab′)₂ bispecific antibodies). Techniques forgenerating bispecific antibodies from antibody fragments have beendescribed in the literature. For example, bispecific antibodies can beprepared can be prepared using chemical linkage. Brennan et al., Science229:81 (1985) describe a procedure wherein intact antibodies areproteolytically cleaved to generate F(ab′)₂ fragments. These fragmentsare reduced in the presence of the dithiol complexing agent sodiumarsenite to stabilize vicinal dithiols and prevent intermoleculardisulfide formation. The Fab′ fragments generated are then converted tothionitrobenzoate (TNB) derivatives. One of the Fab′-TNB derivatives isthen reconverted to the Fab′-thiol by reduction with mercaptoethylamineand is mixed with an equimolar amount of the other Fab′-TNB derivativeto form the bispecific antibody. The bispecific antibodies produced canbe used as agents for the selective immobilization of enzymes.

Fab′ fragments may be directly recovered from E. coli and chemicallycoupled to form bispecific antibodies. Shalaby et al., J. Exp. Med.175:217-225 (1992) describe the production of a fully humanizedbispecific antibody F(ab′)₂ molecule. Each Fab′ fragment was separatelysecreted from E. coli and subjected to directed chemical coupling invitro to form the bispecific antibody. The bispecific antibody thusformed was able to bind to cells overexpressing the ErbB2 receptor andnormal human T cells, as well as trigger the lytic activity of humancytotoxic lymphocytes against human breast tumor targets.

Various technique for making and isolating bispecific antibody fragmentsdirectly from recombinant cell culture have also been described. Forexample, bispecific antibodies have been produced using leucine zippers.Kostelny et al., J. Immunol. 148(5): 1547-1553 (1992). The leucinezipper peptides from the Fos and Jun proteins were linked to the Fab′portions of two different antibodies by gene fusion. The antibodyhomodimers were reduced at the hinge region to form monomers and thenre-oxidized to form the antibody heterodimers. This method can also beutilized for the production of antibody homodimers. The “diabody”technology described by Hollinger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA90:6444-6448 (1993) has provided an alternative mechanism for makingbispecific antibody fragments. The fragments comprise a heavy-chainvariable domain (V_(H)) connected to a light-chain variable domain(V_(L)) by a linker which is too short to allow pairing between the twodomains on the same chain. Accordingly, the V_(H) and V_(L) domains ofone fragment are forced to pair with the complementary V_(L) and V_(H)domains of another fragment, thereby forming two antigen-binding sites.Another strategy for making bispecific antibody fragments by the use ofsingle-chain Fv (sFv) dimers has also been reported. See, Gruber et al.,J. Immunol. 152:5368 (1994).

Antibodies with more than two valencies are contemplated. For example,trispecific antibodies can be prepared. Tutt et al., J. Immunol. 147:60(1991).

Exemplary bispecific antibodies may bind to two different epitopes on agiven PRO polypeptide herein. Alternatively, an anti-PRO polypeptide armmay be combined with an arm which binds to a triggering molecule on aleukocyte such as a T-cell receptor molecule (e.g. CD2, CD3, CD28, orB7), or Fc receptors for IgG (FcγR), such as FcγRI (CD64), FcγRII (CD32)and FcγRIII (CD16) so as to focus cellular defense mechanisms to thecell expressing the particular PRO polypeptide. Bispecific antibodiesmay also be used to localize cytotoxic agents to cells which express aparticular PRO polypeptide. These antibodies possess a PRO-binding armand an arm which binds a cytotoxic agent or a radionuclide chelator,such as EOTUBE, DPTA, DOTA, or TETA. Another bispecific antibody ofinterest binds the PRO polypeptide and further binds tissue factor (TF).

5. Heteroconjugate Antibodies

Heteroconjugate antibodies are also within the scope of the presentinvention. Heteroconjugate antibodies are composed of two covalentlyjoined antibodies. Such antibodies have, for example, been proposed totarget immune system cells to unwanted cells [U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,980],and for treatment of HIV infection [WO 91/00360; WO 92/200373; EP03089]. It is contemplated that the antibodies may be prepared in vitrousing known methods in synthetic protein chemistry, including thoseinvolving crosslinking agents. For example, immunotoxins may beconstructed using a disulfide exchange reaction or by forming athioether bond. Examples of suitable reagents for this purpose includeiminothiolate and methyl-4-mercaptobutyrimidate and those disclosed, forexample, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,980.

6. Effector Function Engineering

It may be desirable to modify the antibody of the invention with respectto effector function, so as to enhance, e.g., the effectiveness of theantibody in treating cancer. For example, cysteine residue(s) may beintroduced into the Fc region, thereby allowing interchain disulfidebond formation in this region. The homodimeric antibody thus generatedmay have improved internalization capability and/or increasedcomplement-mediated cell killing and antibody-dependent cellularcytotoxicity (ADCC). See Caron et al., J. Exp Med., 176: 1191-1195(1992) and Shopes, J. Immunol., 148: 2918-2922 (1992). Homodimericantibodies with enhanced anti-tumor activity may also be prepared usingheterobifunctional cross-linkers as described in Wolff et al. CancerResearch, 53: 2560-2565 (1993). Alternatively, an antibody can beengineered that has dual Fc regions and may thereby have enhancedcomplement lysis and ADCC capabilities. See Stevenson et al.,Anti-Cancer Drug Design, 3: 219-230 (1989).

7. Immunoconjugates

The invention also pertains to immunoconjugates comprising an antibodyconjugated to a cytotoxic agent such as a chemotherapeutic agent, toxin(e.g., an enzymatically active toxin of bacterial, fungal, plant, oranimal origin, or fragments thereof), or a radioactive isotope (i.e., aradioconjugate).

Chemotherapeutic agents useful in the generation of suchimmunoconjugates have been described above. Enzymatically active toxinsand fragments thereof that can be used include diphtheria A chain,nonbinding active fragments of diphtheria toxin, exotoxin A chain (fromPseudomonas aeruginosa), ricin A chain, abrin A chain, modeccin A chain,alpha-sarcin, Aleurites fordii proteins, dianthin proteins, Phytolacaamericana proteins (PAPI, PAPII, and PAP-S), momordica charantiainhibitor, curcin, crotin, sapaonaria officinalis inhibitor, gelonin,mitogellin, restrictocin, phenomycin, enomycin, and the tricothecenes. Avariety of radionuclides are available for the production ofradioconjugated antibodies. Examples include ²¹²Bi, ¹³¹I, ¹³¹In, ⁹⁰Y,and ¹⁸⁶Re. Conjugates of the antibody and cytotoxic agent are made usinga variety of bifunctional protein-coupling agents such asN-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithiol) propionate (SPDP), iminothiolane(IT), bifunctional derivatives of imidoesters (such as dimethyladipimidate HCL), active esters (such as disuccinimidyl suberate),aldehydes (such as glutareldehyde), bis-azido compounds (such as bis(p-azidobenzoyl) hexanediamine), bis-diazonium derivatives (such asbis-(p-diazoniumbenzoyl)-ethylenediamine), diisocyanates (such astolyene 2,6-diisocyanate), and bis-active fluorine compounds (such as1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene). For example, a ricin immunotoxin canbe prepared as described in Vitetta et al., Science, 238: 1098 (1987).Carbon-14-labeled 1-isothiocyanatobenzyl-3-methyldiethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (MX-DTPA) is an exemplary chelating agent forconjugation of radionucleotide to the antibody. See WO94/11026.

In another embodiment, the antibody may be conjugated to a “receptor”(such streptavidin) for utilization in tumor pretargeting wherein theantibody-receptor conjugate is administered to the patient, followed byremoval of unbound conjugate from the circulation using a clearing agentand then administration of a “ligand” (e.g., avidin) that is conjugatedto a cytotoxic agent (e.g., a radionucleotide).

8. Immunoliposomes

The antibodies disclosed herein may also be formulated asimmunoliposomes. Liposomes containing the antibody are prepared bymethods known in the art, such as described in Epstein et al., Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 82: 3688 (1985); Hwang et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. USA, 77: 4030 (1980); and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,485,045 and 4,544,545.Liposomes with enhanced circulation time are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,013,556.

Particularly useful liposomes can be generated by the reverse-phaseevaporation method with a lipid composition comprisingphosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and PEG-derivatizedphosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-PE). Liposomes are extruded throughfilters of defined pore size to yield liposomes with the desireddiameter. Fab′ fragments of the antibody of the present invention can beconjugated to the liposomes as described in Martin et al., J. Biol.Chem., 257: 286-288 (1982) via a disulfide-interchange reaction. Achemotherapeutic agent (such as Doxorubicin) is optionally containedwithin the liposome. See Gabizon et al., J. National Cancer Inst.,81(19): 1484 (1989).

9. Pharmaceutical Compositions of Antibodies

Antibodies specifically binding a PRO polypeptide identified herein, aswell as other molecules identified by the screening assays disclosedhereinbefore, can be administered for the treatment of various disordersin the form of pharmaceutical compositions.

If the PRO polypeptide is intracellular and whole antibodies are used asinhibitors, internalizing antibodies are preferred. However,lipofections or liposomes can also be used to deliver the antibody, oran antibody fragment, into cells. Where antibody fragments are used, thesmallest inhibitory fragment that specifically binds to the bindingdomain of the target protein is preferred. For example, based upon thevariable-region sequences of an antibody, peptide molecules can bedesigned that retain the ability to bind the target protein sequence.Such peptides can be synthesized chemically and/or produced byrecombinant DNA technology. See, e.g., Marasco et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. USA, 90: 7889-7893 (1993). The formulation herein may also containmore than one active compound as necessary for the particular indicationbeing treated, preferably those with complementary activities that donot adversely affect each other. Alternatively, or in addition, thecomposition may comprise an agent that enhances its function, such as,for example, a cytotoxic agent, cytoline, chemotherapeutic agent, orgrowth-inhibitory agent. Such molecules are suitably present incombination in amounts that are effective for the purpose intended.

The active ingredients may also be entrapped in microcapsules prepared,for example, by coacervation techniques or by interfacialpolymerization, for example, hydroxymethylcellulose orgelatin-microcapsules and poly-(methylmethacylate) microcapsules,respectively, in colloidal drug delivery systems (for example,liposomes, albumin microspheres, microemulsions, nano-particles, andnanocapsules) or in macroemulsions. Such techniques are disclosed inRemington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, supra.

The formulations to be used for in vivo administration must be sterile.This is readily accomplished by filtration through sterile filtrationmembranes.

Sustained-release preparations may be prepared. Suitable examples ofsustained-release preparations include semipermeable matrices of solidhydrophobic polymers containing the antibody, which matrices are in theform of shaped articles, e.g., films, or microcapsules. Examples ofsustained-release matrices include polyesters, hydrogels (for example,poly(2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate), or poly(vinylalcohol)), polylactides(U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,919), copolymers of L-glutamic acid and yethyl-L-glutamate, non-degradable ethylene-vinyl acetate, degradablelactic acid-glycolic acid copolymers such as the LUPRON DEPOT® (TAPPharmaceuticals. Inc., North Chicago, ILL.) (injectable microspherescomposed of lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymer and leuprolide acetate),and poly-D-(-)-3-hydroxybutyric acid. While polymers such asethylene-vinyl acetate and lactic acid-glycolic acid enable release ofmolecules for over 100 days, certain hydrogels release proteins forshorter time periods. When encapsulated antibodies remain in the bodyfor a long time, they may denature or aggregate as a result of exposureto moisture at 37° C., resulting in a loss of biological activity andpossible changes in immunogenicity. Rational strategies can be devisedfor stabilization depending on the mechanism involved. For example, ifthe aggregation mechanism is discovered to be intermolecular S—S bondformation through thio-disulfide interchange, stabilization may beachieved by modifying sulfhydryl residues, lyophilizing from acidicsolutions, controlling moisture content, using appropriate additives,and developing specific polymer matrix compositions.

G. Uses for anti-PRO Antibodies

The anti-PRO antibodies of the invention have various utilities. Forexample, anti-PRO antibodies may be used in diagnostic assays for PRO,e.g., detecting its expression (and in some cases, differentialexpression) in specific cells, tissues, or serum. Various diagnosticassay techniques known in the art may be used, such as competitivebinding assays, direct or indirect sandwich assays andimmunoprecipitation assays conducted in either heterogeneous orhomogeneous phases [Zola, Monoclonal Antibodies: A Manual of Techniques,CRC Press, Inc. (1987) pp. 147-158]. The antibodies used in thediagnostic assays can be labeled with a detectable moiety. Thedetectable moiety should be capable of producing, either directly orindirectly, a detectable signal. For example, the detectable moiety maybe a radioisotope, such as ³H, ¹⁴C, ³²P, ³⁵S, or ¹²⁵I, a fluorescent orchemiluminescent compound, such as fluorescein isothiocyanate,rhodamine, or luciferin, or an enzyme, such as alkaline phosphatase,beta-galactosidase or horseradish peroxidase. Any method known in theart for conjugating the antibody to the detectable moiety may beemployed, including those methods described by Hunter et al., Nature,144:945 (1962); David et al., Biochemistry, 13: 1014 (1974); Pain etal., J. Immunol. Meth., 40:219 (1981); and Nygren, J. Histochem, andCytochem., 30:407 (1982).

Anti-PRO antibodies also are useful for the affinity purification of PROfrom recombinant cell culture or natural sources. In this process, theantibodies against PRO are immobilized on a suitable support, such aSephadex resin or filter paper, using methods well known in the art. Theimmobilized antibody then is contacted with a sample containing the PROto be purified, and thereafter the support is washed with a suitablesolvent that will remove substantially all the material in the sampleexcept the PRO, which is bound to the immobilized antibody. Finally, thesupport is washed with another suitable solvent that will release thePRO from the antibody.

The following examples are offered for illustrative purposes only, andare not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

All patent and literature references cited in the present specificationare hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

EXAMPLES

Commercially available reagents referred to in the examples were usedaccording to manufacturer's instructions unless otherwise indicated. Thesource of those cells identified in the following examples, andthroughout the specification, by ATCC® accession numbers is the AmericanType Culture Collection, Manassas, Va.

Example 1 Extracellular Domain Homology Screening to Identify NovelPolypeptides and cDNA Encoding Therefor

The extracellular domain (ECD) sequences (including the secretion signalsequence, if any) from about 950 known secreted proteins from theSwiss-Prot public database were used to search EST databases. The ESTdatabases included public databases (e.g., Dayhoff, GENBANK® (USDepartment of Health and Human Services. Bethesda, Md.), and proprietarydatabases (e.g. LIFESEQ®, Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Palo Alto, Calif.).The search was performed using the computer program BLAST or BLAST-2(Altschul et al., Methods in Enzymology 266:460-480 (1996)) as acomparison of the ECD protein sequences to a 6 frame translation of theEST sequences. Those comparisons with a BLAST score of 70 (or in somecases 90) or greater that did not encode known proteins were clusteredand assembled into consensus DNA sequences with the program “phrap”(Phil Green, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash.).

Using this extracellular domain homology screen, consensus DNA sequenceswere assembled relative to the other identified EST sequences usingphrap. In addition, the consensus DNA sequences obtained were often (butnot always) extended using repeated cycles of BLAST or BLAST-2 and phrapto extend the consensus sequence as far as possible using the sources ofEST sequences discussed above.

Based upon the consensus sequences obtained as described above,oligonucleotides were then synthesized and used to identify by PCR acDNA library that contained the sequence of interest and for use asprobes to isolate a clone of the full-length coding sequence for a PROpolypeptide. Forward and reverse PCR primers generally range from 20 to30 nucleotides and are often designed to give a PCR product of about100-1000 bp in length. The probe sequences are typically 40-55 bp inlength. In some cases, additional oligonucleotides are synthesized whenthe consensus sequence is greater than about 1-1.5 kbp. In order toscreen several libraries for a full-length clone, DNA from the librarieswas screened by PCR amplification, as per Ausubel et al., CurrentProtocols in Molecular Biology, with the PCR primer pair. A positivelibrary was then used to isolate clones encoding the gene of interestusing the probe oligonucleotide and one of the primer pairs.

The cDNA libraries used to isolate the cDNA clones were constructed bystandard methods using commercially available reagents such as thosefrom Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif. The cDNA was primed with oligo dTcontaining a NotI site, linked with blunt to Sa1I hemikinased adaptors,cleaved with NotI, sized appropriately by gel electrophoresis, andcloned in a defined orientation into a suitable cloning vector (such aspRKB or pRKD; pRK5B is a precursor of pRK5D that does not contain theSfiI site; see, Holmes et al., Science, 253:1278-1280 (1991)) in theunique XhoI and NotI sites.

Example 2 Isolation of cDNA clones by Amylase Screening

1. Preparation of oligo dT Primed cDNA Library

mRNA was isolated from a human tissue of interest using reagents andprotocols from Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif. (FastTrack 2™). This RNAwas used to generate an oligo dT primed cDNA library in the vector pRK5Dusing reagents and protocols from Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.(SuperScript™ Plasmid System). In this procedure, the double strandedcDNA was sized to greater than 1000 bp and the Sall/NotI linkered cDNAwas cloned into XhoI/NotI cleaved vector. pRK5D is a cloning vector thathas an sp6 transcription initiation site followed by an SfiI restrictionenzyme site preceding the XhoI/NotI cDNA cloning sites.

2. Preparation of random primed cDNA library

A secondary cDNA library was generated in order to preferentiallyrepresent the 5′ ends of the primary cDNA clones. Sp6 RNA was generatedfrom the primary library (described above), and this RNA was used togenerate a random primed cDNA library in the vector pSST-AMY.0 usingreagents and protocols from Life Technologies (Super Script PlasmidSystem, referenced above). In this procedure the double stranded cDNAwas sized to 500-1000 bp, linkered with blunt to NotI adaptors, cleavedwith SfiI, and cloned into SfiI/NotI cleaved vector. pSST-AMY.0 is acloning vector that has a yeast alcohol dehydrogenase promoter precedingthe cDNA cloning sites and the mouse amylase sequence (the maturesequence without the secretion signal) followed by the yeast alcoholdehydrogenase terminator, after the cloning sites. Thus, cDNAs clonedinto this vector that are fused in frame with amylase sequence will leadto the secretion of amylase from appropriately transfected yeastcolonies.

3. Transformation and Detection

DNA from the library described in paragraph 2 above was chilled on iceto which was added electrocompetent DH10B bacteria (Life Technologies,20 ml). The bacteria and vector mixture was then electroporated asrecommended by the manufacturer. Subsequently, SOC media (LifeTechnologies, 1 ml) was added and the mixture was incubated at 37° C.for 30 minutes. The transformants were then plated onto 20 standard 150mm LB plates containing ampicillin and incubated for 16 hours (37° C.).Positive colonies were scraped off the plates and the DNA was isolatedfrom the bacterial pellet using standard protocols, e.g. CsCl-gradient.The purified DNA was then carried on to the yeast protocols below.

The yeast methods were divided into three categories: (1) Transformationof yeast with the plasmid/cDNA combined vector; (2) Detection andisolation of yeast clones secreting amylase; and (3) PCR amplificationof the insert directly from the yeast colony and purification of the DNAfor sequencing and further analysis.

The yeast strain used was HD56-5A (ATCC-90785). This strain has thefollowing genotype: MAT alpha, ura3-52, leu2-3, leu2-112, his3-11,his3-15, MAL⁺, SUC⁺, GAL⁺. Preferably, yeast mutants can be employedthat have deficient post-translational pathways. Such mutants may havetranslocation deficient alleles in sec71, sec72, sec62, with truncatedsec71 being most preferred. Alternatively, antagonists (includingantisense nucleotides and/or ligands) which interfere with the normaloperation of these genes, other proteins implicated in this posttranslation pathway (e.g., SEC61p, SEC72p, SEC62p, SEC63p, TDJ1p orSSA1p-4p) or the complex formation of these proteins may also bepreferably employed in combination with the amylase-expressing yeast.

Transformation was performed based on the protocol outlined by Gietz etal., Nucl. Acid. Res., 20:1425 (1992). Transformed cells were theninoculated from agar into YEPD complex media broth (100 ml) and grownovernight at 30° C. The YEPD broth was prepared as described in Kaiseret al., Methods in Yeast Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold SpringHarbor, N.Y., p. 207 (1994). The overnight culture was then diluted toabout 2×10⁶ cells/ml (approx. OD₆₀₀=0.1) into fresh YEPD broth (500 ml)and regrown to 1×10⁷ cells/ml (approx. OD₆₀₀=0.4-0.5).

The cells were then harvested and prepared for transformation bytransfer into GS3 rotor bottles in a Sorval GS3 rotor at 5,000 rpm for 5minutes, the supernatant discarded, and then resuspended into sterilewater, and centrifuged again in 50 ml falcon tubes at 3,500 rpm in aBeckman GS-6KR centrifuge. The supernatant was discarded and the cellswere subsequently washed with LiAc/TE (10 ml, 10 mM Tris-HCl, 1 mM EDTApH 7.5, 100 mM Li₂OOCCH₃), and resuspended into LiAc/TE (2.5 ml).

Transformation took place by mixing the prepared cells (100 μl) withfreshly denatured single stranded salmon testes DNA (Lofstrand Labs,Gaithersburg, Md.) and transforming DNA (1 μg, vol. <10 μl) in microfugetubes. The mixture was mixed briefly by vortexing, then 40% PEG/TE (600μl, 40% polyethylene glycol-4000, 10 mM Tris-HCl, 1 mM EDTA, 100 mMLi₂OOCCH₃, pH 7.5) was added. This mixture was gently mixed andincubated at 30° C. while agitating for 30 minutes. The cells were thenheat shocked at 42° C. for 15 minutes, and the reaction vesselcentrifuged in a microfuge at 12,000 rpm for 5-10 seconds, decanted andresuspended into TE (500 μl, 10 mM Tris-HCl, 1 mM EDTA pH 7.5) followedby recentrifugation. The cells were then diluted into TE (1 ml) andaliquots (200 μl) were spread onto the selective media previouslyprepared in 150 mm growth plates (VWR).

Alternatively, instead of multiple small reactions, the transformationwas performed using a single, large scale reaction, wherein reagentamounts were scaled up accordingly.

The selective media used was a synthetic complete dextrose agar lackinguracil (SCD-Ura) prepared as described in Kaiser et al., Methods inYeast Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., p.208-210 (1994). Transformants were grown at 30° C. for 2-3 days.

The detection of colonies secreting amylase was performed by includingred starch in the selective growth media. Starch was coupled to the reddye (Reactive Red-120, Sigma) as per the procedure described by Biely etal., Anal. Biochem., 172:176-179 (1988). The coupled starch wasincorporated into the SCD-Ura agar plates at a final concentration of0.15% (w/v), and was buffered with potassium phosphate to a pH of 7.0(50-100 mM final concentration).

The positive colonies were picked and streaked across fresh selectivemedia (onto 150 mm plates) in order to obtain well isolated andidentifiable single colonies. Well isolated single colonies positive foramylase secretion were detected by direct incorporation of red starchinto buffered SCD-Ura agar. Positive colonies were determined by theirability to break down starch resulting in a clear halo around thepositive colony visualized directly.

4. Isolation of DNA by PCR Amplification

When a positive colony was isolated, a portion of it was picked by atoothpick and diluted into sterile water (30 μl) in a 96 well plate. Atthis time, the positive colonies were either frozen and stored forsubsequent analysis or immediately amplified. An aliquot of cells (5 μl)was used as a template for the PCR reaction in a 25 μl volumecontaining: 0.5 μl KLENTAQ® (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.); 4.0 μl 10 mMdNTP's (Perkin Elmer-Cetus); 2.5 μl KLENTAQ® buffer (Clontech); 0.25 μlforward oligo 1; 0.25 μl reverse oligo 2; 12.5 μl distilled water. Thesequence of the forward oligonucleotide 1 was:

5′-TGTAAAACGACGGCCAGTTAAATAGACCTGCAATTATTAATCT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:245)

The sequence of reverse oligonucleotide 2 was:

5′-CAGGAAACAGCTATGACCACCTGCACACCTGCAAATCCATT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:246)

PCR was then performed as follows:

a. Denature 92° C., 5 minutes b.  3 cycles of: Denature 92° C., 30seconds Anneal 59° C., 30 seconds Extend 72° C., 60 seconds c.  3 cyclesof: Denature 92° C., 30 seconds Anneal 57° C., 30 seconds Extend 72° C.,60 seconds d. 25 cycles of: Denature 92° C., 30 seconds Anneal 55° C.,30 seconds Extend 72° C., 60 seconds e. Hold  4° C.

The underlined regions of the oligonucleotides annealed to the ADHpromoter region and the amylase region, respectively, and amplified a307 bp region from vector pSST-AMY.0 when no insert was present.Typically, the first 18 nucleotides of the 5′ end of theseoligonucleotides contained annealing sites for the sequencing primers.Thus, the total product of the PCR reaction from an empty vector was 343bp. However, signal sequence-fused cDNA resulted in considerably longernucleotide sequences.

Following the PCR, an aliquot of the reaction (5 μl ) was examined byagarose gel electrophoresis in a 1% agarose gel using a Tris-Borate-EDTA(TBE) buffering system as described by Sambrook et al., supra. Clonesresulting in a single strong PCR product larger than 400 bp were furtheranalyzed by DNA sequencing after purification with a 96 QIAQUICK® PCRclean-up column (Qiagen Inc., Chatsworth, Calif.).

Example 3 Isolation of cDNA Clones Using Signal Algorithm Analysis

Various polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid sequences were identified byapplying a proprietary signal sequence finding algorithm developed byGenentech, Inc. (South San Francisco, Calif.) upon ESTs as well asclustered and assembled EST fragments from public (e.g., GENBANK® (USDepartment of Health and Human Services. Bethesda, Md.)) and/or private(LIFESEQ®, Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Palo Alto, Calif.) databases.The signal sequence algorithm computes a secretion signal score based onthe character of the DNA nucleotides surrounding the first andoptionally the second methionine codon(s) (ATG) at the 5′-end of thesequence or sequence fragment under consideration. The nucleotidesfollowing the first ATG must code for at least 35 unambiguous aminoacids without any stop codons. If the first ATG has the required aminoacids, the second is not examined. If neither meets the requirement, thecandidate sequence is not scored. In order to determine whether the ESTsequence contains an authentic signal sequence, the DNA andcorresponding amino acid sequences surrounding the ATG codon are scoredusing a set of seven sensors (evaluation parameters) known to beassociated with secretion signals. Use of this algorithm resulted in theidentification of numerous polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid sequences.

Example 4 Isolation of cDNA clones Encoding Human PRO Polypeptides

Using the techniques described in Examples 1 to 3 above, numerousfull-length cDNA clones were identified as encoding PRO polypeptides asdisclosed herein. These cDNAs were then deposited under the terms of theBudapest Treaty with the American Type Culture Collection, 10801University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, USA (ATCC®) as shown inTable 7 below.

TABLE 7 Material ATCC Dep. No. Deposit Date DNA94849-2960 PTA-2306 Jul.25, 2000 DNA96883-2745 PTA-544 Aug. 17, 1999 DNA96894-2675 PTA-260 Jun.22, 1999 DNA100272-2969 PTA-2299 Jul. 25, 2000 DNA108696-2966 PTA-2315Aug. 1, 2000 DNA117935-2801 PTA-1088 Dec. 22, 1999 DNA119474-2803PTA-1097 Dec. 22, 1999 DNA119498-2965 PTA-2298 Jul. 25, 2000DNA119502-2789 PTA-1082 Dec. 22, 1999 DNA119516-2797 PTA-1083 Dec. 22,1999 DNA119530-2968 PTA-2396 Aug. 8, 2000 DNA121772-2741 PTA-1030 Dec.7, 1999 DNA125148-2782 PTA-955 Nov. 16, 1999 DNA125150-2793 PTA-1085Dec. 22, 1999 DNA125151-2784 PTA-1029 Dec. 7, 1999 DNA125181-2804PTA-1096 Dec. 22, 1999 DNA125192-2794 PTA-1086 Dec. 22, 1999DNA125196-2792 PTA-1091 Dec. 22, 1999 DNA125200-2810 PTA-1186 Jan. 11,2000 DNA125214-2814 PTA-1270 Feb. 2, 2000 DNA125219-2799 PTA-1084 Dec.22, 1999 DNA128309-2825 PTA-1340 Feb. 8, 2000 DNA129535-2796 PTA-1087Dec. 22, 1999 DNA129549-2798 PTA-1099 Dec. 22, 1999 DNA129580-2863PTA-1584 Mar. 28, 2000 DNA129794-2967 PTA-2305 Jul. 25, 2000DNA131590-2962 PTA-2297 Jul. 25, 2000 DNA135173-2811 PTA-1184 Jan. 11,2000 DNA138039-2828 PTA-1343 Feb. 8, 2000 DNA139540-2807 PTA-1187 Jan.11, 2000 DNA139602-2859 PTA-1588 Mar. 28, 2000 DNA139632-2880 PTA-1629Apr. 4, 2000 DNA139686-2823 PTA-1264 Feb. 2, 2000 DNA142392-2800PTA-1092 Dec. 22, 1999 DNA143076-2787 PTA-1028 Dec. 7, 1999DNA143294-2818 PTA-1182 Jan. 11, 2000 DNA143514-2817 PTA-1266 Feb. 2,2000 DNA144841-2816 PTA-1188 Jan. 11, 2000 DNA148380-2827 PTA-1181 Jan.11, 2000 DNA149995-2871 PTA-1971 May 31, 2000 DNA167678-2963 PTA-2302Jul. 25, 2000 DNA168028-2956 PTA-2304 Jul. 25, 2000 DNA173894-2947PTA-2108 Jun. 20, 2000 DNA176775-2957 PTA-2303 Jul. 25, 2000DNA177313-2982 PTA-2251 Jul. 19, 2000 DNA57700-1408 203583 Jan. 12, 1999DNA62872-1509 203100 Aug. 4, 1998 DNA62876-1517 203095 Aug. 4, 1998DNA66660-1585 203279 Sep. 22, 1998 DNA34434-1139 209252 Sep. 16, 1997DNA44804-1248 209527 Dec. 10, 1997 DNA52758-1399 209773 Apr. 14, 1998DNA59849-1504 209986 Jun. 16, 1998 DNA65410-1569 203231 Sep. 15, 1998DNA71290-1630 203275 Sep. 22, 1998 DNA33100-1159 209377 Oct. 16, 1997DNA64896-1539 203238 Sep. 9, 1998 DNA84920-2614 203966 Apr. 27, 1999DNA23330-1390 209775 Apr. 14, 1998 DNA32286-1191 209385 Oct. 16, 1997DNA35673-1201 209418 Oct. 28, 1997 DNA43316-1237 209487 Nov. 21, 1997DNA44184-1319 209704 Mar. 26, 1998 DNA45419-1252 209616 Feb. 5, 1998DNA48314-1320 209702 Mar. 26, 1998 DNA50921-1458 209859 May 12, 1998DNA53987 209858 May 12, 1998 DNA56047-1456 209948 Jun. 9, 1998DNA56405-1357 209849 May 6, 1998 DNA56531-1648 203286 Sep. 29, 1998DNA56865-1491 203022 Jun. 23, 1998 DNA57694-1341 203017 Jun. 23, 1998DNA57708-1411 203021 Jun. 23, 1998 DNA57836-1338 203025 Jun. 23, 1998DNA57841-1522 203458 Nov. 3, 1998 DNA58847-1383 209879 May 20, 1998DNA59212-1627 203245 Sep. 9, 1998 DNA59588-1571 203106 Aug. 11, 1998DNA59622-1334 209984 Jun. 16, 1998 DNA59847-2510 203576 Jan. 12, 1999DNA60615-1483 209980 Jun. 16, 1998 DNA60621-1516 203091 Aug. 4, 1998DNA62814-1521 203093 Aug. 4, 1998 DNA64883-1526 203253 Sep. 9, 1998DNA64889-1541 203250 Sep. 9, 1998 DNA64897-1628 203216 Sep. 15, 1998DNA64903-1553 203223 Sep. 15, 1998 DNA64907-1163-1 203242 Sep. 9, 1998DNA64950-1590 203224 Sep. 15, 1998 DNA64952-1568 203222 Sep. 15, 1998DNA65402-1540 203252 Sep. 9, 1998 DNA65405-1547 203476 Nov. 17, 1998DNA66663-1598 203268 Sep. 22, 1998 DNA66667 203267 Sep. 22, 1998DNA66675-1587 203282 Sep. 22, 1998 DNA67300-1605 203163 Aug. 25, 1998DNA68872-1620 203160 Aug. 25, 1998 DNA71269-1621 203284 Sep. 22, 1998DNA73736-1657 203466 Nov. 17, 1998 DNA73739-1645 203270 Sep. 22, 1998DNA76400-2528 203573 Jan. 12, 1999 DNA76532-1702 203473 Nov. 17, 1998DNA76541-1675 203409 Oct. 27, 1998 DNA79862-2522 203550 Dec. 22, 1998DNA81754-2532 203542 Dec. 15, 1998 DNA81761-2583 203862 Mar. 23, 1999DNA83500-2506 203391 Oct. 29, 1998 DNA84210-2576 203818 Mar. 2, 1999DNA86571-2551 203660 Feb. 9, 1999 DNA92218-2554 203834 Mar. 9, 1999DNA92223-2567 203851 Mar. 16, 1999 DNA92265-2669 PTA-256 Jun. 22, 1999DNA92274-2617 203971 Apr. 27, 1999 DNA108760-2740 PTA-548 Aug. 17, 1999DNA108792-2753 PTA-617 Aug. 31, 1999 DNA111750-2706 PTA-489 Aug. 3, 1999DNA119514-2772 PTA-946 Nov. 9, 1999 DNA125185-2806 PTA-1031 Dec. 7, 1999

These deposits were made under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty onthe International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for thePurpose of Patent Procedure and the Regulations thereunder (BudapestTreaty). This assures maintenance of a viable culture of the deposit for30 years from the date of deposit and for at least five (5) years afterthe most recent request for the furnishing of a sample of the depositreceived by the depository. The deposits will be made available by ATCC®under the terms of the Budapest Treaty, and subject to an agreementbetween Genentech, Inc. and ATCC®, which assures that all restrictionsimposed by the depositor on the availability to the public of thedeposited material will be irrevocably removed upon the granting of thepertinent U.S. patent, assures availability of the progeny to onedetermined by the U.S. Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks to beentitled thereto according to 35 USC § 122 and the Commissioner's rulespursuant thereto (including 37 CFR § 1.14 with particular reference to886 OG 638).

The assignee of the present application has agreed that if a culture ofthe materials on deposit should die or be lost or destroyed whencultivated under suitable conditions, the materials will be promptlyreplaced on notification with another of the same. Availability of thedeposited material is not to be construed as a license to practice theinvention in contravention of the rights granted under the authority ofany government in accordance with its patent laws.

Example 5 Isolation of cDNA Clones Encoding Human PRO6004, PRO5723,PRO3444, and PRO9940

DNA molecules encoding the PRO840, PRO1338, PRO6004, PRO5723, PRO3444,and PRO9940 polypeptides shown in the accompanying figures were obtainedthrough GenBank.

Example 6 Use of PRO as a Hybridization Probe

The following method describes use of a nucleotide sequence encoding PROas a hybridization probe.

DNA comprising the coding sequence of full-length or mature PRO asdisclosed herein is employed as a probe to screen for homologous DNAs(such as those encoding naturally-occurring variants of PRO) in humantissue cDNA libraries or human tissue genomic libraries.

Hybridization and washing of filters containing either library DNAs isperformed under the following high stringency conditions. Hybridizationof radiolabeled PRO-derived probe to the filters is performed in asolution of 50% formamide, 5×SSC, 0.1% SDS, 0.1% sodium pyrophosphate,50 mM sodium phosphate, pH 6.8, 2× Denhardt's solution, and 10% dextransulfate at 42° C. for 20 hours. Washing of the filters is performed inan aqueous solution of 0.1×SSC and 0.1% SDS at 42° C.

DNAs having a desired sequence identity with the DNA encodingfull-length native sequence PRO can then be identified using standardtechniques known in the art.

Example 7 Expression of PRO in E. coli

This example illustrates preparation of an unglycosylated form of PRO byrecombinant expression in E. coli.

The DNA sequence encoding PRO is initially amplified using selected PCRprimers. The primers should contain restriction enzyme sites whichcorrespond to the restriction enzyme sites on the selected expressionvector. A variety of expression vectors may be employed. An example of asuitable vector is pBR322 (derived from E. coli; see Bolivar et al.,Gene, 2:95 (1977)) which contains genes for ampicillin and tetracyclineresistance. The vector is digested with restriction enzyme anddephosphorylated. The PCR amplified sequences are then ligated into thevector. The vector will preferably include sequences which encode for anantibiotic resistance gene, a trp promoter, a polyhis leader (includingthe first six STII codons, polyhis sequence, and enterokinase cleavagesite), the PRO coding region, lambda transcriptional terminator, and anargu gene.

The ligation mixture is then used to transform a selected E. coli strainusing the methods described in Sambrook et al., supra. Transformants areidentified by their ability to grow on LB plates and antibioticresistant colonies are then selected. Plasmid DNA can be isolated andconfirmed by restriction analysis and DNA sequencing.

Selected clones can be grown overnight in liquid culture medium such asLB broth supplemented with antibiotics. The overnight culture maysubsequently be used to inoculate a larger scale culture. The cells arethen grown to a desired optical density, during which the expressionpromoter is turned on.

After culturing the cells for several more hours, the cells can beharvested by centrifugation. The cell pellet obtained by thecentrifugation can be solubilized using various agents known in the art,and the solubilized PRO protein can then be purified using a metalchelating column under conditions that allow tight binding of theprotein.

PRO may be expressed in E. coli in a poly-H is tagged form, using thefollowing procedure. The DNA encoding PRO is initially amplified usingselected PCR primers. The primers will contain restriction enzyme siteswhich correspond to the restriction enzyme sites on the selectedexpression vector, and other useful sequences providing for efficientand reliable translation initiation, rapid purification on a metalchelation column, and proteolytic removal with enterokinase. ThePCR-amplified, poly-H is tagged sequences are then ligated into anexpression vector, which is used to transform an E. coli host based onstrain 52 (W3110 fhA(tonA) lon galE rpoHts(htpRts) clpP(lacIq).Transformants are first grown in LB containing 50 mg/ml carbenicillin at30° C. with shaking until an O.D.600 of 3-5 is reached. Cultures arethen diluted 50-100 fold into CRAP media (prepared by mixing 3.57 g(NH₄)₂SO₄, 0.71 g sodium citrate•2H₂O, 1.07 g KCl, 5.36 g Difco yeastextract, 5.36 g Sheffield hycase SF in 500 mL water, as well as 110 mMMPOS, pH 7.3, 0.55% (w/v) glucose and 7 mM MgSO₄) and grown forapproximately 20-30 hours at 30° C. with shaking. Samples are removed toverify expression by SDS-PAGE analysis, and the bulk culture iscentrifuged to pellet the cells. Cell pellets are frozen untilpurification and refolding.

E. coli paste from 0.5 to 1 L fermentations (6-10 g pellets) isresuspended in 10 volumes (w/v) in 7 M guanidine, 20 mM Tris, pH 8buffer. Solid sodium sulfite and sodium tetrathionate is added to makefinal concentrations of 0.1 M and 0.02 M, respectively, and the solutionis stirred overnight at 4° C. This step results in a denatured proteinwith all cysteine residues blocked by sulfitolization. The solution iscentrifuged at 40,000 rpm in a Beckman Ultracentifuge for 30 min. Thesupernatant is diluted with 3-5 volumes of metal chelate column buffer(6 M guanidine, 20 mM Tris, pH 7.4) and filtered through 0.22 micronfilters to clarify. The clarified extract is loaded onto a 5 ml QiagenNi-NTA metal chelate column equilibrated in the metal chelate columnbuffer. The column is washed with additional buffer containing 50 mMimidazole (Calbiochem, Utrol grade), pH 7.4. The protein is eluted withbuffer containing 250 mM imidazole. Fractions containing the desiredprotein are pooled and stored at 4° C. Protein concentration isestimated by its absorbance at 280 nm using the calculated extinctioncoefficient based on its amino acid sequence.

The proteins are refolded by diluting the sample slowly into freshlyprepared refolding buffer consisting of: 20 mM Tris, pH 8.6, 0.3 M NaCl,2.5 M urea, 5 mM cysteine, 20 mM glycine and 1 mM EDTA. Refoldingvolumes are chosen so that the final protein concentration is between 50to 100 micrograms/ml. The refolding solution is stirred gently at 4° C.for 12-36 hours. The refolding reaction is quenched by the addition ofTFA to a final concentration of 0.4% (pH of approximately 3). Beforefurther purification of the protein, the solution is filtered through a0.22 micron filter and acetonitrile is added to 2-10% finalconcentration. The refolded protein is chromatographed on a Poros R1/Hreversed phase column using a mobile buffer of 0.1% TFA with elutionwith a gradient of acetonitrile from 10 to 80%. Aliquots of fractionswith A280 absorbance are analyzed on SDS polyacrylamide gels andfractions containing homogeneous refolded protein are pooled. Generally,the properly refolded species of most proteins are eluted at the lowestconcentrations of acetonitrile since those species are the most compactwith their hydrophobic interiors shielded from interaction with thereversed phase resin. Aggregated species are usually eluted at higheracetonitrile concentrations. In addition to resolving misfolded forms ofproteins from the desired form, the reversed phase step also removesendotoxin from the samples.

Fractions containing the desired folded PRO polypeptide are pooled andthe acetonitrile removed using a gentle stream of nitrogen directed atthe solution. Proteins are formulated into 20 mM Hepes, pH 6.8 with 0.14M sodium chloride and 4% mannitol by dialysis or by gel filtration usingG25 SUPERFINE™ (Pharmacia) resins equilibrated in the formulation bufferand sterile filtered.

Many of the PRO polypeptides disclosed herein were successfullyexpressed as described above.

Example 8 Expression of PRO in Mammalian Cells

This example illustrates preparation of a potentially glycosylated formof PRO by recombinant expression in mammalian cells.

The vector, pRK5 (see EP 307,247, published Mar. 15, 1989), is employedas the expression vector. Optionally, the PRO DNA is ligated into pRK5with selected restriction enzymes to allow insertion of the PRO DNAusing ligation methods such as described in Sambrook et al., supra. Theresulting vector is called pRK5-PRO.

In one embodiment, the selected host cells may be 293 cells. Human 293cells (ATCC® CCL 1573) are grown to confluence in tissue culture platesin medium such as DMEM supplemented with fetal calf serum andoptionally, nutrient components and/or antibiotics. About 10 μg pRK5-PRODNA is mixed with about 1 μg DNA encoding the VA RNA gene [Thimmappayaet al. Cell 31:543 (1982)] and dissolved in 500 μl of 1 mM Tris-HCl, 0.1mM EDTA, 0.227 M CaCl₂. To this mixture is added, dropwise, 500 μl of 50mM HEPES (pH 7.35), 280 mM NaCl, 1.5 mM NaPO₄, and a precipitate isallowed to form for 10 minutes at 25° C. The precipitate is suspendedand added to the 293 cells and allowed to settle for about four hours at37° C. The culture medium is aspirated off and 2 ml of 20% glycerol inPBS is added for 30 seconds. The 293 cells are then washed with serumfree medium, fresh medium is added and the cells are incubated for about5 days.

Approximately 24 hours after the transfections, the culture medium isremoved and replaced with culture medium (alone) or culture mediumcontaining 200 μCi/ml ³⁵S-cysteine and 200 μCi/ml ³⁵S-methionine. Aftera 12 hour incubation, the conditioned medium is collected, concentratedon a spin filter, and loaded onto a 15% SDS gel. The processed gel maybe dried and exposed to film for a selected period of time to reveal thepresence of PRO polypeptide. The cultures containing transfected cellsmay undergo further incubation (in serum free medium) and the medium istested in selected bioassays.

In an alternative technique, PRO may be introduced into 293 cellstransiently using the dextran sulfate method described by Somparyrac etal., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 12:7575 (1981). 293 cells are grown tomaximal density in a spinner flask and 700 μg pRK5-PRO DNA is added. Thecells are first concentrated from the spinner flask by centrifugationand washed with PBS. The DNA-dextran precipitate is incubated on thecell pellet for four hours. The cells are treated with 20% glycerol for90 seconds, washed with tissue culture medium, and re-introduced intothe spinner flask containing tissue culture medium, 5 μg/ml bovineinsulin and 0.1 μg/ml bovine transferrin. After about four days, theconditioned media is centrifuged and filtered to remove cells anddebris. The sample containing expressed PRO can then be concentrated andpurified by any selected method, such as dialysis and/or columnchromatography.

In another embodiment, PRO can be expressed in CHO cells. The pRK5-PROcan be transfected into CHO cells using known reagents such as CaPO₄ orDEAE-dextran. As described above, the cell cultures can be incubated,and the medium replaced with culture medium (alone) or medium containinga radiolabel such as ³⁵S-methionine. After determining the presence ofPRO polypeptide, the culture medium may be replaced with serum freemedium. Preferably, the cultures are incubated for about 6 days, andthen the conditioned medium is harvested. The medium containing theexpressed PRO can then be concentrated and purified by any selectedmethod.

Epitope-tagged PRO may also be expressed in host CHO cells. The PRO maybe subcloned out of the pRK5 vector. The subclone insert can undergo PCRto fuse in frame with a selected epitope tag such as a poly-his tag intoa Baculovirus expression vector. The poly-his tagged PRO insert can thenbe subcloned into a SV40 driven vector containing a selection markersuch as DHFR for selection of stable clones. Finally, the CHO cells canbe transfected (as described above) with the SV40 driven vector.Labeling may be performed, as described above, to verify expression. Theculture medium containing the expressed poly-H is tagged PRO can then beconcentrated and purified by any selected method, such as byNi²⁺-chelate affinity chromatography.

PRO may also be expressed in CHO and/or COS cells by a transientexpression procedure or in CHO cells by another stable expressionprocedure.

Stable expression in CHO cells is performed using the followingprocedure. The proteins are expressed as an IgG construct(immunoadhesin), in which the coding sequences for the soluble forms(e.g. extracellular domains) of the respective proteins are fused to anIgG1 constant region sequence containing the hinge, CH2 and CH2 domainsand/or is a poly-H is tagged form.

Following PCR amplification, the respective DNAs are subcloned in a CHOexpression vector using standard techniques as described in Ausubel etal., Current Protocols of Molecular Biology, Unit 3.16, John Wiley andSons (1997). CHO expression vectors are constructed to have compatiblerestriction sites 5′ and 3′ of the DNA of interest to allow theconvenient shuttling of cDNA's. The vector used expression in CHO cellsis as described in Lucas et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 24:9 (1774-1779(1996), and uses the SV40 early promoter/enhancer to drive expression ofthe cDNA of interest and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). DHFR expressionpermits selection for stable maintenance of the plasmid followingtransfection.

Twelve micrograms of the desired plasmid DNA is introduced intoapproximately 10 million CHO cells using commercially availabletransfection reagents SUPERFECT® (Quiagen), DOSPER™ (Roche AppliedScience, Indianapolis, Ind.) or FUGENE® (Boehringer Mannheim). The cellsare grown as described in Lucas et al., supra. Approximately 3×10−⁷cells are frozen in an ampule for further growth and production asdescribed below.

The ampules containing the plasmid DNA are thawed by placement intowater bath and mixed by vortexing. The contents are pipetted into acentrifuge tube containing 10 mLs of media and centrifuged at 1000 rpmfor 5 minutes. The supernatant is aspirated and the cells areresuspended in 10 mL of selective media (0.2 μm filtered PS20 with 5%0.2 μm diafiltered fetal bovine serum). The cells are then aliquotedinto a 100 mL spinner containing 90 mL of selective media. After 1-2days, the cells are transferred into a 250 mL spinner filled with 150 mLselective growth medium and incubated at 37° C. After another 2-3 days,250 mL, 500 mL and 2000 mL spinners are seeded with 3×10⁵ cells/mL. Thecell media is exchanged with fresh media by centrifugation andresuspension in production medium. Although any suitable CHO media maybe employed, a production medium described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,469,issued Jun. 16, 1992 may actually be used. A 3L production spinner isseeded at 1.2×10⁶ cells/mL. On day 0, the cell number pH ie determined.On day 1, the spinner is sampled and sparging with filtered air iscommenced. On day 2, the spinner is sampled, the temperature shifted to33° C., and 30 mL of 500 g/L glucose and 0.6 mL of 10% antifoam (e.g.,35% polydimethylsiloxane emulsion, Dow Corning 365 Medical GradeEmulsion) taken. Throughout the production, the pH is adjusted asnecessary to keep it at around 7.2. After 10 days, or until theviability dropped below 70%, the cell culture is harvested bycentrifugation and filtering through a 0.22 μm filter. The filtrate waseither stored at 4° C. or immediately loaded onto columns forpurification.

For the poly-H is tagged constructs, the proteins are purified using aNi-NTA column (Qiagen). Before purification, imidazole is added to theconditioned media to a concentration of 5 mM. The conditioned media ispumped onto a 6 ml Ni-NTA column equilibrated in 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.4,buffer containing 0.3 M NaCl and 5 mM imidazole at a flow rate of 4-5ml/min. at 4° C. After loading, the column is washed with additionalequilibration buffer and the protein eluted with equilibration buffercontaining 0.25 M imidazole. The highly purified protein is subsequentlydesalted into a storage buffer containing 10 mM Hepes, 0.14 M NaCl and4% mannitol, pH 6.8, with a 25 ml G25 Superfine (Pharmacia) column andstored at −80° C.

Immunoadhesin (Fc-containing) constructs are purified from theconditioned media as follows. The conditioned medium is pumped onto a 5ml Protein A column (Pharmacia) which had been equilibrated in 20 mM Naphosphate buffer, pH 6.8. After loading, the column is washedextensively with equilibration buffer before elution with 100 mM citricacid, pH 3.5. The eluted protein is immediately neutralized bycollecting 1 ml fractions into tubes containing 275 μL of 1 M Trisbuffer, pH 9. The highly purified protein is subsequently desalted intostorage buffer as described above for the poly-H is tagged proteins. Thehomogeneity is assessed by SDS polyacrylamide gels and by N-terminalamino acid sequencing by Edman degradation.

Many of the PRO polypeptides disclosed herein were successfullyexpressed as described above.

Example 9 Expression of PRO in Yeast

The following method describes recombinant expression of PRO in yeast.

First, yeast expression vectors are constructed for intracellularproduction or secretion of PRO from the ADH2/GAPDH promoter. DNAencoding PRO and the promoter is inserted into suitable restrictionenzyme sites in the selected plasmid to direct intracellular expressionof PRO. For secretion, DNA encoding PRO can be cloned into the selectedplasmid, together with DNA encoding the ADH2/GAPDH promoter, a nativePRO signal peptide or other mammalian signal peptide, or, for example, ayeast alpha-factor or invertase secretory signal/leader sequence, andlinker sequences (if needed) for expression of PRO.

Yeast cells, such as yeast strain AB110, can then be transformed withthe expression plasmids described above and cultured in selectedfermentation media. The transformed yeast supernatants can be analyzedby precipitation with 10% trichloroacetic acid and separation bySDS-PAGE, followed by staining of the gels with Coomassie Blue stain.

Recombinant PRO can subsequently be isolated and purified by removingthe yeast cells from the fermentation medium by centrifugation and thenconcentrating the medium using selected cartridge filters. Theconcentrate containing PRO may further be purified using selected columnchromatography resins.

Many of the PRO polypeptides disclosed herein were successfullyexpressed as described above.

Example 10 Expression of PRO in Baculovirus-Infected Insect Cells

The following method describes recombinant expression of PRO inBaculovirus-infected insect cells.

The sequence coding for PRO is fused upstream of an epitope tagcontained within a baculovirus expression vector. Such epitope tagsinclude poly-his tags and immunoglobulin tags (like Fc regions of IgG).A variety of plasmids may be employed, including plasmids derived fromcommercially available plasmids such as pVL1393 (Novagen). Briefly, thesequence encoding PRO or the desired portion of the coding sequence ofPRO such as the sequence encoding the extracellular domain of atransmembrane protein or the sequence encoding the mature protein if theprotein is extracellular is amplified by PCR with primers complementaryto the 5′ and 3′ regions. The 5′ primer may incorporate flanking(selected) restriction enzyme sites. The product is then digested withthose selected restriction enzymes and subcloned into the expressionvector.

Recombinant baculovirus is generated by co-transfecting the aboveplasmid and BACULOGOLD™ virus DNA (Pharmingen Corp., San Diego, Calif.)into Spodoptera frugiperda (“Sf9”) cells (ATCC® CRL 1711) usinglipofectin (commercially available from GIBCO-BRL). After 4-5 days ofincubation at 28° C., the released viruses are harvested and used forfurther amplifications. Viral infection and protein expression areperformed as described by O'Reilley et al., Baculovirus expressionvectors: A Laboratory Manual, Oxford: Oxford University Press (1994).

Expressed poly-his tagged PRO can then be purified, for example, byNi²⁺-chelate affinity chromatography as follows. Extracts are preparedfrom recombinant virus-infected Sf9 cells as described by Rupert et al.,Nature, 362:175-179 (1993). Briefly, Sf9 cells are washed, resuspendedin sonication buffer (25 mL Hepes, pH 7.9; 12.5 mM MgCl₂; 0.1 mM EDTA;10% glycerol; 0.1% NP-40; 0.4 M KCl), and sonicated twice for 20 secondson ice. The sonicates are cleared by centrifugation, and the supernatantis diluted 50-fold in loading buffer (50 mM phosphate, 300 mM NaCl, 10%glycerol, pH 7.8) and filtered through a 0.45 μm filter. A Ni²⁺-NTAagarose column (commercially available from Qiagen) is prepared with abed volume of 5 mL, washed with 25 mL of water and equilibrated with 25mL of loading buffer. The filtered cell extract is loaded onto thecolumn at 0.5 mL per minute. The column is washed to baseline A₂₈₀ withloading buffer, at which point fraction collection is started. Next, thecolumn is washed with a secondary wash buffer (50 mM phosphate; 300 mMNaCl, 10% glycerol, pH 6.0), which elutes nonspecifically bound protein.After reaching A₂₈₀ baseline again, the column is developed with a 0 to500 mM Imidazole gradient in the secondary wash buffer. One mL fractionsare collected and analyzed by SDS-PAGE and silver staining or Westernblot with Ni²⁺-NTA-conjugated to alkaline phosphatase (Qiagen).Fractions containing the eluted His₁₀-tagged PRO are pooled and dialyzedagainst loading buffer.

Alternatively, purification of the IgG tagged (or Fc tagged) PRO can beperformed using known chromatography techniques, including for instance,Protein A or protein G column chromatography.

Many of the PRO polypeptides disclosed herein were successfullyexpressed as described above.

Example 11 Preparation of Antibodies that Bind PRO

This example illustrates preparation of monoclonal antibodies which canspecifically bind PRO.

Techniques for producing the monoclonal antibodies are known in the artand are described, for instance, in Goding, supra. Immunogens that maybe employed include purified PRO, fusion proteins containing PRO, andcells expressing recombinant PRO on the cell surface. Selection of theimmunogen can be made by the skilled artisan without undueexperimentation.

Mice, such as Balb/c, are immunized with the PRO immunogen emulsified incomplete Freund's adjuvant and injected subcutaneously orintraperitoneally in an amount from 1-100 micrograms. Alternatively, theimmunogen is emulsified in MPL-TDM adjuvant (Ribi ImmunochemicalResearch, Hamilton, Mont.) and injected into the animal's hind footpads. The immunized mice are then boosted 10 to 12 days later withadditional immunogen emulsified in the selected adjuvant. Thereafter,for several weeks, the mice may also be boosted with additionalimmunization injections. Serum samples may be periodically obtained fromthe mice by retro-orbital bleeding for testing in ELISA assays to detectanti-PRO antibodies.

After a suitable antibody titer has been detected, the animals“positive” for antibodies can be injected with a final intravenousinjection of PRO. Three to four days later, the mice are sacrificed andthe spleen cells are harvested. The spleen cells are then fused (using35% polyethylene glycol) to a selected murine myeloma cell line such asP3X63AgU.1, available from ATCC®, No. CRL 1597. The fusions generatehybridoma cells which can then be plated in 96 well tissue cultureplates containing HAT (hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and thymidine) mediumto inhibit proliferation of non-fused cells, myeloma hybrids, and spleencell hybrids.

The hybridoma cells will be screened in an ELISA for reactivity againstPRO. Determination of “positive” hybridoma cells secreting the desiredmonoclonal antibodies against PRO is within the skill in the art.

The positive hybridoma cells can be injected intraperitoneally intosyngeneic Balb/c mice to produce ascites containing the anti-PROmonoclonal antibodies. Alternatively, the hybridoma cells can be grownin tissue culture flasks or roller bottles. Purification of themonoclonal antibodies produced in the ascites can be accomplished usingammonium sulfate precipitation, followed by gel exclusionchromatography. Alternatively, affinity chromatography based uponbinding of antibody to protein A or protein G can be employed.

Example 12 Purification of PRO Polypeptides Using Specific Antibodies

Native or recombinant PRO polypeptides may be purified by a variety ofstandard techniques in the art of protein purification. For example,pro-PRO polypeptide, mature PRO polypeptide, or pre-PRO polypeptide ispurified by immunoaffinity chromatography using antibodies specific forthe PRO polypeptide of interest. In general, an immunoaffinity column isconstructed by covalently coupling the anti-PRO polypeptide antibody toan activated chromatographic resin.

Polyclonal immunoglobulins are prepared from immune sera either byprecipitation with ammonium sulfate or by purification on immobilizedProtein A (Pharmacia LKB Biotechnology, Piscataway, N.J.). Likewise,monoclonal antibodies are prepared from mouse ascites fluid by ammoniumsulfate precipitation or chromatography on immobilized Protein A.Partially purified immunoglobulin is covalently attached to achromatographic resin such as CnBr-activated SEPHAROSE™ (Pharmacia LKBBiotechnology). The antibody is coupled to the resin, the resin isblocked, and the derivative resin is washed according to themanufacturer's instructions.

Such an immunoaffinity column is utilized in the purification of PROpolypeptide by preparing a fraction from cells containing PROpolypeptide in a soluble form. This preparation is derived bysolubilization of the whole cell or of a subcellular fraction obtainedvia differential centrifugation by the addition of detergent or by othermethods well known in the art. Alternatively, soluble PRO polypeptidecontaining a signal sequence may be secreted in useful quantity into themedium in which the cells are grown.

A soluble PRO polypeptide-containing preparation is passed over theimmunoaffinity column, and the column is washed under conditions thatallow the preferential absorbance of PRO polypeptide (e.g., high ionicstrength buffers in the presence of detergent). Then, the column iseluted under conditions that disrupt antibody/PRO polypeptide binding(e.g., a low pH buffer such as approximately pH 2-3, or a highconcentration of a chaotrope such as urea or thiocyanate ion), and PROpolypeptide is collected.

Example 13 Drug Screening

This invention is particularly useful for screening compounds by usingPRO polypeptides or binding fragment thereof in any of a variety of drugscreening techniques. The PRO polypeptide or fragment employed in such atest may either be free in solution, affixed to a solid support, borneon a cell surface, or located intracellularly. One method of drugscreening utilizes eukaryotic or prokaryotic host cells which are stablytransformed with recombinant nucleic acids expressing the PROpolypeptide or fragment. Drugs are screened against such transformedcells in competitive binding assays. Such cells, either in viable orfixed form, can be used for standard binding assays. One may measure,for example, the formation of complexes between PRO polypeptide or afragment and the agent being tested. Alternatively, one can examine thediminution in complex formation between the PRO polypeptide and itstarget cell or target receptors caused by the agent being tested.

Thus, the present invention provides methods of screening for drugs orany other agents which can affect a PRO polypeptide-associated diseaseor disorder. These methods comprise contacting such an agent with an PROpolypeptide or fragment thereof and assaying (I) for the presence of acomplex between the agent and the PRO polypeptide or fragment, or (ii)for the presence of a complex between the PRO polypeptide or fragmentand the cell, by methods well known in the art. In such competitivebinding assays, the PRO polypeptide or fragment is typically labeled.After suitable incubation, free PRO polypeptide or fragment is separatedfrom that present in bound form, and the amount of free or uncomplexedlabel is a measure of the ability of the particular agent to bind to PROpolypeptide or to interfere with the PRO polypeptide/cell complex.

Another technique for drug screening provides high throughput screeningfor compounds having suitable binding affinity to a polypeptide and isdescribed in detail in WO 84/03564, published on Sep. 13, 1984. Brieflystated, large numbers of different small peptide test compounds aresynthesized on a solid substrate, such as plastic pins or some othersurface. As applied to a PRO polypeptide, the peptide test compounds arereacted with PRO polypeptide and washed. Bound PRO polypeptide isdetected by methods well known in the art. Purified PRO polypeptide canalso be coated directly onto plates for use in the aforementioned drugscreening techniques. In addition, non-neutralizing antibodies can beused to capture the peptide and immobilize it on the solid support.

This invention also contemplates the use of competitive drug screeningassays in which neutralizing antibodies capable of binding PROpolypeptide specifically compete with a test compound for binding to PROpolypeptide or fragments thereof. In this manner, the antibodies can beused to detect the presence of any peptide which shares one or moreantigenic determinants with PRO polypeptide.

Example 14 Rational Drug Design

The goal of rational drug design is to produce structural analogs ofbiologically active polypeptide of interest (i.e., a PRO polypeptide) orof small molecules with which they interact, e.g., agonists,antagonists, or inhibitors. Any of these examples can be used to fashiondrugs which are more active or stable forms of the PRO polypeptide orwhich enhance or interfere with the function of the PRO polypeptide invivo (cf., Hodgson, Bio/Technology, 9: 19-21 (1991)).

In one approach, the three-dimensional structure of the PRO polypeptide,or of an PRO polypeptide-inhibitor complex, is determined by x-raycrystallography, by computer modeling or, most typically, by acombination of the two approaches. Both the shape and charges of the PROpolypeptide must be ascertained to elucidate the structure and todetermine active site(s) of the molecule. Less often, useful informationregarding the structure of the PRO polypeptide may be gained by modelingbased on the structure of homologous proteins. In both cases, relevantstructural information is used to design analogous PRO polypeptide-likemolecules or to identify efficient inhibitors. Useful examples ofrational drug design may include molecules which have improved activityor stability as shown by Braxton and Wells, Biochemistry, 31:7796-7801(1992) or which act as inhibitors, agonists, or antagonists of nativepeptides as shown by Athauda et al., J. Biochem., 113:742-746 (1993).

It is also possible to isolate a target-specific antibody, selected byfunctional assay, as described above, and then to solve its crystalstructure. This approach, in principle, yields a pharmacore upon whichsubsequent drug design can be based. It is possible to bypass proteincrystallography altogether by generating anti-idiotypic antibodies(anti-ids) to a functional, pharmacologically active antibody. As amirror image of a mirror image, the binding site of the anti-ids wouldbe expected to be an analog of the original receptor. The anti-id couldthen be used to identify and isolate peptides from banks of chemicallyor biologically produced peptides. The isolated peptides would then actas the pharmacore.

By virtue of the present invention, sufficient amounts of the PROpolypeptide may be made available to perform such analytical studies asX-ray crystallography. In addition, knowledge of the PRO polypeptideamino acid sequence provided herein will provide guidance to thoseemploying computer modeling techniques in place of or in addition tox-ray crystallography.

Example 15 Pericyte c-Fos Induction (Assay 93)

This assay shows that certain polypeptides of the invention act toinduce the expression of c-fos in pericyte cells and, therefore, areuseful not only as diagnostic markers for particular types ofpericyte-associated tumors but also for giving rise to antagonists whichwould be expected to be useful for the therapeutic treatment ofpericyte-associated tumors. Induction of c-fos expression in pericytesis also indicative of the induction of angiogenesis and, as such, PROpolypeptides capable of inducing the expression of c-fos would beexpected to be useful for the treatment of conditions where inducedangiogenesis would be beneficial including, for example, wound healing,and the like. Specifically, on day 1, pericytes are received from VECTechnologies and all but 5 ml of media is removed from flask. On day 2,the pericytes are trypsinized, washed, spun and then plated onto 96 wellplates. On day 7, the media is removed and the pericytes are treatedwith 100 μl of PRO polypeptide test samples and controls (positivecontrol=DME+5% serum+/−PDGF at 500 ng/ml; negative control=protein 32).Replicates are averaged and SD/CV are determined. Fold increase overProtein 32 (buffer control) value indicated by chemiluminescence units(RLU) luminometer reading verses frequency is plotted on a histogram.Two-fold above Protein 32 value is considered positive for the assay.ASY Matrix: Growth media=low glucose DMEM=20% FBS+1× pen strep +1×fungizone. Assay Media=low glucose DMEM+5% FBS.

The following polypeptides tested positive in this assay: PRO982,PRO1160, PRO1187, and PRO1329.

Example 16 Chondrocyte Re-differentiation Assay (Assay 110)

This assay shows that certain polypeptides of the invention act toinduce redifferentiation of chondrocytes, therefore, are expected to beuseful for the treatment of various bone and/or cartilage disorders suchas, for example, sports injuries and arthritis. The assay is performedas follows. Porcine chondrocytes are isolated by overnight collagenasedigestion of articulary cartilage of metacarpophalangeal joints of 4-6month old female pigs. The isolated cells are then seeded at 25,000cells/cm² in Ham F-12 containing 10% FBS and 4 μg/ml gentamycin. Theculture media is changed every third day and the cells are then seededin 96 well plates at 5,000 cells/well in 100 μl of the same mediawithout serum and 100 μl of the test PRO polypeptide, 5 nM staurosporin(positive control) or medium alone (negative control) is added to give afinal volume of 200 μl/well. After 5 days of incubation at 37° C., apicture of each well is taken and the differentiation state of thechondrocytes is determined. A positive result in the assay occurs whenthe redifferentiation of the chondrocytes is determined to be moresimilar to the positive control than the negative control.

The following polypeptide tested positive in this assay: PRO357.

Example 17 Identification of PRO Polypeptides That Stimulate TNF-αRelease In Human Blood (Assay 128)

This assay shows that certain PRO polypeptides of the present inventionact to stimulate the release of TNF-α in human blood. PRO polypeptidestesting positive in this assay are useful for, among other things,research purposes where stimulation of the release of TNF-α would bedesired and for the therapeutic treatment of conditions wherein enhancedTNF-α release would be beneficial. Specifically, 200 μl of human bloodsupplemented with 50 mM Hepes buffer (pH 7.2) is aliquoted per well in a96 well test plate. To each well is then added 300 μl of either the testPRO polypeptide in 50 mM Hepes buffer (at various concentrations) or 50mM Hepes buffer alone (negative control) and the plates are incubated at37° C. for 6 hours. The samples are then centrifuged and 50 μl of plasmais collected from each well and tested for the presence of TNF-α byELISA assay. A positive in the assay is a higher amount of TNF-α in thePRO polypeptide treated samples as compared to the negative controlsamples.

The following PRO polypeptides tested positive in this assay: PRO231,PRO357, PRO725, PRO1155, PRO1306, and PRO1419.

Example 18 Promotion of Chondrocyte Redifferentiation (Assay 129)

This assay is designed to determine whether PRO polypeptides of thepresent invention show the ability to induce the proliferation and/orredifferentiation of chondrocytes in culture. PRO polypeptides testingpositive in this assay would be expected to be useful for thetherapeutic treatment of various bone and/or cartilage disorders suchas, for example, sports injuries and arthritis.

Porcine chondrocytes are isolated by overnight collagenase digestion ofarticular cartilage of the metacarpophalangeal joint of 4-6 month oldfemale pigs. The isolated cells are then seeded at 25,000 cells/cm² inHam F-12 containing 10% FBS and 4 μg/ml gentamycin. The culture media ischanged every third day. On day 12, the cells are seeded in 96 wellplates at 5,000 cells/well in 100 μl of the same media without serum and100 μl of either serum-free medium (negative control), staurosporin(final concentration of 5 nM; positive control) or the test PROpolypeptide are added to give a final volume of 200 μl/well. After 5days at 37° C., 22 μl of media containing 100 μg/ml Hoechst 33342 and 50μg/ml 5-CFDA is added to each well and incubated for an additional 10minutes at 37° C. A picture of the green fluorescence is taken for eachwell and the differentiation state of the chondrocytes is calculated bymorphometric analysis. A positive result in the assay is obtained whenthe >50% of the PRO polypeptide treated cells are differentiated(compared to the background obtained by the negative control).

The following PRO polypeptides tested positive in this assay: PRO229,PRO1272, and PRO4405.

Example 19 Normal Human Dermal Fibroblast Proliferation (Assay 141)

This assay is designed to determine whether PRO polypeptides of thepresent invention show the ability to induce proliferation of humandermal fibroblast cells in culture and, therefore, function as usefulgrowth factors.

On day 0, human dermal fibroblast cells (from cell lines, maximum of12-14 passages) were plated in 96-well plates at 1000 cells/well per 100microliter and incubated overnight in complete media [fibroblast growthmedia (FGM, Clonetics), plus supplements: insulin, human epithelialgrowth factor (hEGF), gentamicin (GA-1000), and fetal bovine serum (FBS,Clonetics)]. On day 1, complete media was replaced by basal media [FGMplus 1% FBS] and addition of PRO polypeptides at 1%, 0.1% and 0.01%. Onday 7, an assessment of cell proliferation was performed by Alamar Blueassay followed by Crystal Violet. Results are expressed as % of the cellgrowth observed with control buffer.

The following PRO polypeptides stimulated normal human dermal fibroblastproliferation in this assay: PRO982, PRO357, PRO725, PRO1306, PRO1419,PRO214, PRO247, PRO337, PRO526, PRO363, PRO531, PRO1083, PRO840,PRO1080, PRO1478, PRO1134, PRO826, PRO1005, PRO809, PRO1071, PRO1411,PRO1309, PRO1025, PRO1181, PRO1126, PRO1186, PRO1192, PRO1244, PRO1274,PRO1412, PRO1286, PRO1330, PRO1347, PRO1305, PRO1273, PRO1279, PRO1340,PRO1338, PRO1343, PRO1376, PRO1387, PRO1409, PRO1474, PRO1917, PRO1760,PRO1567, PRO1887, PRO1928, PRO4341, PRO1801, PRO4333, PRO3543, PRO3444,PRO4322, PRO9940, PRO6079, PRO9836 and PRO10096.

The following PRO polypeptides inhibited normal human dermal fibroblastproliferation in this assay: PRO181, PRO229, PRO788, PRO1194, PRO1272,PRO1488, PRO4302, PRO4408, PRO5723, PRO5725, PRO7154, and PRO7425.

Example 20 Microarray Analysis to Detect Overexpression of PROPolypeptides in Cancerous Tumors

Nucleic acid microarrays, often containing thousands of gene sequences,are useful for identifying differentially expressed genes in diseasedtissues as compared to their normal counterparts. Using nucleic acidmicroarrays, test and control mRNA samples from test and control tissuesamples are reverse transcribed and labeled to generate cDNA probes. ThecDNA probes are then hybridized to an array of nucleic acids immobilizedon a solid support. The array is configured such that the sequence andposition of each member of the array is known. For example, a selectionof genes known to be expressed in certain disease states may be arrayedon a solid support. Hybridization of a labeled probe with a particulararray member indicates that the sample from which the probe was derivedexpresses that gene. If the hybridization signal of a probe from a test(disease tissue) sample is greater than hybridization signal of a probefrom a control (normal tissue) sample, the gene or genes overexpressedin the disease tissue are identified. The implication of this result isthat an overexpressed protein in a diseased tissue is useful not only asa diagnostic marker for the presence of the disease condition, but alsoas a therapeutic target for treatment of the disease condition.

The methodology of hybridization of nucleic acids and microarraytechnology is well known in the art. In the present example, thespecific preparation of nucleic acids for hybridization and probes,slides, and hybridization conditions are all detailed in U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/193,767, filed on Mar. 31,2000 and which is herein incorporated by reference.

In the present example, cancerous tumors derived from various humantissues were studied for PRO polypeptide-encoding gene expressionrelative to non-cancerous human tissue in an attempt to identify thosePRO polypeptides which are overexpressed in cancerous tumors. Canceroushuman tumor tissue from any of a variety of different human tumors wasobtained and compared to a “universal” epithelial control sample whichwas prepared by pooling non-cancerous human tissues of epithelialorigin, including liver, kidney, and lung. mRNA isolated from the pooledtissues represents a mixture of expressed gene products from thesedifferent tissues. Microarray hybridization experiments using the pooledcontrol samples generated a linear plot in a 2-color analysis. The slopeof the line generated in a 2-color analysis was then used to normalizethe ratios of (test:control detection) within each experiment. Thenormalized ratios from various experiments were then compared and usedto identify clustering of gene expression. Thus, the pooled “universalcontrol” sample not only allowed effective relative gene expressiondeterminations in a simple 2-sample comparison, it also allowedmulti-sample comparisons across several experiments.

In the present experiments, nucleic acid probes derived from the hereindescribed PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid sequences were used inthe creation of the microarray and RNA from a panel of nine differenttumor tissues (listed below) were used for the hybridization thereto. Avalue based upon the normalized ratio:experimental ratio was designatedas a “cutoff ratio”. Only values that were above this cutoff ratio weredetermined to be significant. Table 8 below shows the results of theseexperiments, demonstrating that various PRO polypeptides of the presentinvention are significantly overexpressed in various human tumortissues, as compared to a non-cancerous human tissue control or otherhuman tumor tissues. As described above, these data demonstrate that thePRO polypeptides of the present invention are useful not only asdiagnostic markers for the presence of one or more cancerous tumors, butalso serve as therapeutic targets for the treatment of those tumors.

TABLE 8 Molecule is overexpressed in: as compared to normal control:PRO6004 colon tumor universal normal control PRO4981 colon tumoruniversal normal control PRO4981 lung tumor universal normal controlPRO7174 colon tumor universal normal control PRO5778 lung tumoruniversal normal control PRO5778 breast tumor universal normal controlPRO5778 liver tumor universal normal control PRO4332 colon tumoruniversal normal control PRO9799 colon tumor universal normal controlPRO9909 colon tumor universal normal control PRO9917 colon tumoruniversal normal control PRO9917 lung tumor universal normal controlPRO9917 breast tumor universal normal control PRO9771 colon tumoruniversal normal control PRO9877 colon tumor universal normal controlPRO9903 colon tumor universal normal control PRO9830 colon tumoruniversal normal control PRO7155 colon tumor universal normal controlPRO7155 lung tumor universal normal control PRO7155 prostate tumoruniversal normal control PRO9862 colon tumor universal normal controlPRO9882 colon tumor universal normal control PRO9864 colon tumoruniversal normal control PRO10013 colon tumor universal normal controlPRO9885 colon tumor universal normal control PRO9879 colon tumoruniversal normal control PRO10111 colon tumor universal normal controlPRO10111 rectal tumor universal normal control PRO9925 breast tumoruniversal normal control PRO9925 rectal tumor universal normal controlPRO9925 colon tumor universal normal control PRO9925 lung tumoruniversal normal control PRO9905 colon tumor universal normal controlPRO10276 colon tumor universal normal control PRO9898 colon tumoruniversal normal control PRO9904 colon tumor universal normal controlPRO19632 colon tumor universal normal control PRO19672 colon tumoruniversal normal control PRO9783 colon tumor universal normal controlPRO9783 lung tumor universal normal control PRO9783 breast tumoruniversal normal control PRO9783 prostate tumor universal normal controlPRO9783 rectal tumor universal normal control PRO10112 colon tumoruniversal normal control PRO10284 colon tumor universal normal controlPRO10100 colon tumor universal normal control PRO19628 colon tumoruniversal normal control PRO19684 colon tumor universal normal controlPRO10274 colon tumor universal normal control PRO9907 colon tumoruniversal normal control PRO9873 colon tumor universal normal controlPRO10201 colon tumor universal normal control PRO10200 colon tumoruniversal normal control PRO10196 colon tumor universal normal controlPRO10282 lung tumor universal normal control PRO10282 breast tumoruniversal normal control PRO10282 colon tumor universal normal controlPRO10282 rectal tumor universal normal control PRO19650 colon tumoruniversal normal control PRO21184 lung tumor universal normal controlPRO21184 breast tumor universal normal control PRO21184 colon tumoruniversal normal control PRO21201 breast tumor universal normal controlPRO21201 colon tumor universal normal control PRO21175 breast tumoruniversal normal control PRO21175 colon tumor universal normal controlPRO21175 lung tumor universal normal control PRO21340 colon tumoruniversal normal control PRO21340 prostate tumor universal normalcontrol PRO21384 colon tumor universal normal control PRO21384 lungtumor universal normal control PRO21384 breast tumor universal normalcontrol

Example 21 Tumor Versus Normal Differential Tissue ExpressionDistribution

Oligonucleotide probes were constructed from some of the PROpolypeptide-encoding nucleotide sequences shown in the accompanyingfigures for use in quantitative PCR amplification reactions. Theoligonucleotide probes were chosen so as to give an approximately200-600 base pair amplified fragment from the 3′ end of its associatedtemplate in a standard PCR reaction. The oligonucleotide probes wereemployed in standard quantitative PCR amplification reactions with cDNAlibraries isolated from different human tumor and normal human tissuesamples and analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis so as to obtain aquantitative determination of the level of expression of the PROpolypeptide-encoding nucleic acid in the various tumor and normaltissues tested. β-actin was used as a control to assure that equivalentamounts of nucleic acid was used in each reaction. Identification of thedifferential expression of the PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid inone or more tumor tissues as compared to one or more normal tissues ofthe same tissue type renders the molecule useful diagnostically for thedetermination of the presence or absence of tumor in a subject suspectedof possessing a tumor as well as therapeutically as a target for thetreatment of a tumor in a subject possessing such a tumor. These assaysprovided the following results.

(1) the DNA94849-2960 molecule is significantly expressed in thefollowing tissues: cartilage, testis, colon tumor, heart, placenta, bonemarrow, adrenal gland, prostate, spleen aortic endothelial cells anduterus, and not significantly expressed in the following tissues: HUVEC.

(2) the DNA 100272-2969 molecule is significantly expressed incartilage, testis, human umblilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC),colon tumor, heart, placenta, bone marrow, adrenal gland, prostate,spleen and aortic endothelial cells; and not significantly expressed inuterus. Among a panel of normal and tumor cells examined, theDNA100272-2969 was found to be expressed in normal esophagus, esophagealtumor, normal stomach, stomach tumor, normal kidney, kidney tumor,normal lung, lung tumor, normal rectum, rectal tumor, normal liver andliver tumor.

(3) the DNA108696-2966 molecule is highly expressed in prostate and alsoexpressed in testis, bone marrow and spleen. The DNA108696-2966 moleculeis expressed in normal stomach, but not expressed in stomach tumor. TheDNA 108696-2966 molecule is not expressed in normal kidney, kidneytumor, normal lung, or lung tumor. The DNA 108696-2966 molecule ishighly expressed in normal rectum, lower expression in rectal tumor. TheDNA108696-2966 molecule is not expressed in normal liver or liver tumor.The DNA108696-2966 molecule is not expressed in normal esophagus,esophagial tumor, cartilage, HUVEC, colon tumor, heart, placenta,adrenal gland, aortic endothelial cells and uterus.

(4) the DNA 119498-2965 molecule is significantly expressed in thefollowing tissues: highly expressed in aortic endothelial cells, andalso significantly expressed in cartilage, testis, HUVEC, colon tumor,heart, placenta, bone marrow, adrenal galnd, prostate and spleen. It isnot significantly expressed in uterus.

(5) the DNA119530-2968 molecule is expressed in the following tissues:normal esophagus and not expressed in the following tissues: esophagealtumors, stomach tumors, normal stomach, normal kidney, kidney tumor,normal lung, lung tumor, normal rectum, rectal tumors, normal liver orliver tumors.

(6) the DNA129794-2967 molecule is significantly expressed in testis andadrenal gland; and not significantly expressed in cartilage, humanumblilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), colon tumor, heart, placenta,bone marrow, prostate, spleen, aortic endothelial cells and uterus.

(7) the DNA131590-2962 molecule is significantly expressed in thefollowing tissues: bone marrow, adrenal gland, prostate, spleen, uterus,cartilage, testis, colon tumor, heart, and placenta, and notsignificantly expressed in the following tissues: HUVEC, and aorticendothelial cells.

(8) the DNA149995-2871 molecule is highly expressed in testis, andadrenal gland; expressed in cartilage, human umblilical vein endothelialcells (HUVEC), colon tumor, heart, prostate and uterus; weakly expressedin bone marrow, spleen and aortic endothelial cells; and notsignificantly expressed in placenta.

(9) the DNA167678-2963 molecule is significantly expressed in thefollowing tissues: normal esophagus, esophagial tumor, highly expressedin normal stomach, stomach tumor, highly expressed in normal kidney,kidney tumor, expressed in lung, lung tumor, normal rectum, rectaltumor, weakly expressed in normal liver, and not significantly expressedin liver tumor.

(10) the DNA168028-2956 molecule is highly expressed in bone marrow;expressed in testis, human umblilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC),colon tumor, heart, placenta, adrenal gland, prostate, spleen, aorticendothelial cells and uterus; and is weakly expressed in cartilage.Among a panel of normal and tumor samples examined, the DNA 168028-2956was found to be expressed in stomach tumor, normal kidney, kidney tumor,lung tumor, normal rectum and rectal tumor; and not expressed in normalesophagus, esophageal tumor, normal stomach, normal lung, normal liverand liver tumor.

(11) the DNA 176775-2957 molecule is highly expressed in testis;expressed in cartilage and prostate; weakly expressed in adrenal gland,spleen and uterus; and not significantly expressed in human umblilicalvein endothelial cells (HUVEC), colon tumor, heart, placenta, bonemarrow and aortic endothelial cells.

(12) the DNA177313-2982 molecule is significantly expressed in prostateand aortic endothelial cells; and not significantly expressed incartilage, testis, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), colontumor, heart, placenta, bone marrow, adrenal gland, spleen and uterus.Among a panel of normal and tumor cells, the DNA 177313-2982 moleculewas found to be expressed in esophageal tumor but not in normalesophagus, normal stomach, stomach tumor, normal kidney, kidney tumor,normal lung, lung tumor, normal rectum, rectal tumor, normal liver andliver tumor.

1. An isolated antibody that specifically binds to the polypeptide ofSEQ ID NO:16 lacking its associated signal peptide.
 2. The antibody ofclaim 1, wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.
 3. The antibodyof claim 1, wherein the antibody is a humanized antibody.
 4. Theantibody of claim 1, wherein the antibody is a human antibody.
 5. Theantibody of claim 1, wherein the antibody is an antibody fragment.
 6. Animmunoconjugate comprising an antibody that specifically binds to thepolypeptide of SEQ ID NO:16 lacking its associated signal peptide, and acytotoxic agent.
 7. The immunoconjugate of claim 6, wherein the antibodyis a monoclonal antibody.
 8. The immunoconjugate of claim 6, wherein theantibody is a humanized antibody.
 9. The immunoconjugate of claim 6,wherein the antibody is a human antibody.
 10. The immunoconjugate ofclaim 6, wherein the antibody is an antibody fragment.